Cubs roster move: Adrian Sampson recalled, Johneshwy Fargas DFA

The Cubs have used 10 starting pitchers this year, in alphabetical order:

Adbert Alzolay
Jake Arrieta
Zach Davies
Kyle Hendricks
Alec Mills
Justin Steele
Kohl Stewart
Robert Stock
Keegan Thompson
Trevor Williams

And I know you’re thinking, in relation to some of those guys: “That was this year?”

An 11th starter will be added to that list today, as Adrian Sampson is being recalled from Triple-A Iowa to make the day game start against the Reds. To make room for Sampson on the 26- and 40-man rosters, Johneshwy Fargas was designated for assignment.

Sampson was the Pirates’ fifth-round pick in 2012 and was traded to the Mariners in 2015 for J.A. Happ, then the Rangers claimed him on waivers a year later. He pitched in Korea in 2020 and the Cubs signed him to a minor-league deal May 10. He will become the 61st man to play for the Cubs this year, extending the franchise record for such things.

Sampson has 41 MLB appearances (20 starts) with the Mariners and Rangers from 2016-19, and, well, his numbers in those outings weren’t good: 5.71 ERA, 1.497 WHIP, 37 (!) home runs in 153 innings.

Hopefully, his Cubs debut will go better.