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The Texas Rangers have claimed righthanded pitcher Adrian Sampson on waivers from the Seattle Mariners, according to John Blake on Twitter.
Sampson, 25, was a 5th round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2012 draft, and was traded by the Pirates to Seattle at the 2015 trade deadline for pitcher J.A. Happ. Sampson made one start for the M’s this season before going on the disabled list with a flexor tendon issue that required surgery. Sampson is not expected to be ready to start the 2017 season, according to Blake.
Sampson appears to be intended as potential starting pitching depth, once he’s healthy, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s put on waivers later in the season by the Rangers in an effort to outright him. If he sticks on the 40 man roster, he’ll presumably be stashed on the 60 day d.l. as soon as the move can be made.