Cubs would be smart to shop Adrian Sampson ahead of the deadline

Adrian Sampson is probably the most underrated pitcher on the Cubs this year, despite starting only four games and appearing in just a half-dozen total contests In his six appearances this season, Sampson has pitched 27 innings. Even though that number is not high, his 3.33 ERA and 1.11 WHIP have made him one of the more consistent starters on the team.

In May 2021, the Cubs signed Sampson to a minor league contract. However, it wasn’t until this season where Sampson began to emerge as a solid starter for a struggling team. But what do the Cubs do with the trade deadline coming up? Sampson is on fire and would be a solid piece to add to the bullpen or even a fifth starter for a team pushing for the postseason like the Orioles and Mariners. As Sampson is 30 years old, it’s hard to envision him getting better in the years to come.

If the Cubs are to trade Sampson, it will likely be for a low-level minor leaguer or possibly some cash, but at this point, it is better than getting nothing. A perfect fit for Sampson would be the the aforementioned O’s, who are on fire right now, pushing for a wild card spot after sweeping the Cubs at Wrigley this week.

The Orioles also have a major problem at the back of their rotation. Their fifth starter, Kyle Bradish, has an ERA over 7.00, and a team pushing for a wild card spot cannot afford someone performing like that every five days. Sampson would be a low risk-high reward time of player for any team really, but given his likely low cost, he’s a perfect fit for Baltimore.

Cubs unlikely to get long-term value by keeping Adrian Sampson

But what could the Cubs get out of an Adrian Sampson trade? Between Sampson’s age and lack of starting appearances this season, the Cubs would likely not get any big name. The probability of the team receiving anyone in the Orioles’ top 20 prospects is very low but receiving a young player in exchange for him has better odds of paying off down the road than Sampson does for a team like Chicago.

If the Cubs were to receive anyone younger than 30, which is how old Sampson is, then I would see that as a win, as the Cubs could add further depth to their system.