The Nationals signed Sampson to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Washington assigned Sampson to Triple-A Rochester, where he'll likely work out of the rotation. The 33-year-old righty has seen big-league action in parts of five seasons, but he hasn't surfaced in the majors since 2022. He most recently spent the 2024 season in the Rangers organization at Triple-A Round Rock, producing a 5.64 ERA and 1.60 WHIP over 137.1 innings.

Sampson signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

EDGE Analysis

Sampson managed a 3.11 ERA over 21 outings (19 starts) with the Cubs in 2022 but made just nine minor-league appearances in 2023 while missing time following knee surgery. He's healthy now and will compete for a swingman job with the Rangers, but the 32-year-old's most likely destination to start 2024 is Triple-A Round Rock.

The Rays released Sampson on Aug. 4.

EDGE Analysis

In a minor deal hours before the Aug. 1 trade deadline, the Rays acquired Sampson from the Cubs as part of a three-player deal, but the veteran right-hander never reported to Tampa Bay's top affiliate in Durham before being handed his walking papers. Sampson made 19 starts for the Cubs in 2022 but had pitched exclusively in the minors in 2023 while missing extensive time due to injury. He had compiled a 10.17 ERA and 1.96 WHIP over 23 innings at Triple-A Iowa prior to being traded to the Rays.

The Cubs traded Sampson and Manuel Rodriguez to the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for Josh Roberson, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sampson has not pitched in the majors this season, primarily because of a right knee injury that required a cleanup procedure in May, but he registered a 3.11 ERA over 19 starts and two relief appearances for the Cubs during the 2022 campaign. The 31-year-old is healthy now and will presumably report to the Triple-A affiliate of the Rays in Durham.

The Cubs reinstated Sampson (knee) from the 60-day injured list Monday and outrighted him to Triple-A Iowa, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

After making 19 starts for the Cubs in 2022, Sampson hasn't pitched for the big club this season after being optioned to Iowa coming out of spring training and then getting shut down with a right meniscus injury in early April following two starts with the Triple-A squad. He was cleared to start up a rehab assignment June 24 and eventually reported back to Iowa on July 4, with the right-hander having produced a 9.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 11 strikeouts over 12 innings in his four starts since returning to Triple-A. Though he no longer possesses a spot on the 40-man roster, Sampson should continue to fill a rotation spot at Iowa and could get a late-season call-up to the Cubs if injuries test the organization's pitching depth in the majors.

Sampson (knee) completed his third rehab start at Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, tossing three innings and striking out two while allowing three earned runs on three hits and one walk.

EDGE Analysis

Sampson began his rehab program in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on June 24 and has now made five appearances in total during the minor-league assignment, pitching to an 8.56 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 13.2 innings. Since the Cubs don't appear to have a spot in the rotation available for Sampson, he'll likely remain on the farm for close to the full 30 days of the rehab assignment before being activated from the 60-day injured list. Sampson has three minor-league options remaining, so he could be optioned to Iowa once he's reinstated in order to continue making starts with the hope that a spot in the big-league rotation reopens at some point.

Sampson (knee) will move up to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday to continue his rehab assignment, Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sampson made two starts with the Cubs' Arizona Complex League affiliate and wasn't very sharp, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with just two strikeouts over 4.2 innings. He'll probably need to show more before the Cubs consider him for a spot in the rotation or bullpen. Sampson has been out for most of this season following a meniscal debridement procedure on his right knee in May.

Sampson (knee) started a rehab assignment with the ACL Cubs on Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sampson underwent a meniscal debridement procedure on his right knee in May, and the right-hander was placed on the 60-day injured list shortly after. He'll need to make several rehab appearances before he's ready to return, but he could be an option for the Cubs sometime after the All-Star break.

The Cubs transferred Sampson (knee) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Nick Burdi, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Iowa. Sampson isn't expected to return until July at the earliest after he underwent a meniscal debridement procedure on his right knee earlier this month.

Sampson underwent a meniscal debridement procedure on his right knee Friday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Cubs haven't provided a timeline for Sampson's return, but he's presumably at least several weeks away from being ready to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. After being optioned to Triple-A Iowa coming out of spring training, Sampson made two starts for the affiliate before going down with the knee injury. Chicago recalled him from Triple-A on Thursday, but it was merely a procedural move, as he shifted from Iowa's 7-day injured list to the Cubs' 15-day IL. Sampson could move to the Cubs' 60-day IL if the organization needs to free up a 40-man roster spot at some point later on this season.