Cubs Roster Update: Sampson Added, Stout Designated

The Chicago Cubs need fresh arms so badly that they’re recalling Adrian Sampson and designating Eric Stout for assignment. A bummer for the Chicago native Stout but he may squeeze through waivers and end up right back in Iowa.

Here’s the full press release:

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today selected right-handed pitcher Adrian Sampson from Triple-A Iowa. To make room on the 40-man roster for Sampson, left-handed pitcher Eric Stout has been designated for assignment.

Sampson is available to pitch in today’s 1:20 p.m. CT game against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field.

Sampson, 30, begins his second stint with the Cubs this season. He made one relief appearance May 8 against the Los Angeles Dodgers after being selected from Iowa, tossing one inning and allowing two unearned runs on two hits. He was optioned back to Iowa May 9 and was designated for assignment May 10.

The righthander was acquired off waivers by the Seattle Mariners, May 13 but did not make an appearance for the organization before being designated for assignment, May 21, later signing a minor league contract with the Cubs, May 31. He has appeared in three games (one start) from June 2-11 at the I-Cubs, pitching to a 4.15 ERA (4 ER/8.2 IP) and allowing one walk against five strikeouts. All told, he owns an 0-3 record with a 3.81 ERA (12 ER/28.1 IP) in eight games (six starts) for at Triple-A Iowa this season.

Last season, the right-handed pitcher posted a 2.80 ERA (11 ER/35.1 IP) with a 1-2 record in 10 games (five starts) for Chicago. He started with a 1.59 ERA (2 ER/11.1 IP) through his first five outings and, all told, pitched to a 1.08 WHIP with eight walks, 28 strikeouts and a .231 opponent batting average.

The six-foot, two-inch Sampson is 7-14 with a 5.13 ERA (108 ER/189.1 IP) in all or part of five major league seasons with Seattle (2016), Texas (2018-19) and the Cubs (2021-22). He made his major league debut with the Mariners in 2016, appearing in one game, and saw his most extensive big-league action with the Rangers in 2019, going 6-8 with a 5.89 ERA (82 ER/125.1 IP) in 35 games (15 starts) with 36 walks and 101 strikeouts.

Sampson was selected by the Pirates in the fifth round of the 2012 draft out of Bellevue (Wash.) Community College. He was traded to Seattle for left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ at the 2015 trade deadline.

Stout, 29, has posted a 4.91 ERA (2 ER/3.2 IP) with one walk and six strikeouts in two games out of the bullpen for Chicago this season.