Rangers sign RHP Adrian Sampson to minor league deal

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Right-hander Adrian Sampson has signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers that includes an invitation to spring training with the World Series champions.

Sampson, 32, is returning to the Rangers for the first time since 2019. He didn’t pitch in the majors last season after right knee surgery in May while in the Chicago Cubs organization.

After going 6-11 with a 5.64 ERA in 40 games (19 starts) with Texas in 2018 and 2019, Sampson spent one season with the Lotte Giants in the Korea Baseball Organization. He went 5-7 with a 3.03 ERA in 31 games for the Cubs in 2021 and 2022.

Sampson is 11-19 with a 4.43 ERA in 72 career games (44 starts) over five big league seasons. He made his MLB debut with a single start for Seattle in 2016.

Sampson was the 29th non-roster player signed to go to spring training, which opens Wednesday, with the Rangers.

After a busy baseball winter, spring is in the air again.