The Rays outrighted Whitley to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Whitley was booted from the Rays' 40-man roster after yielding 10 runs (eight earned) over 4.2 innings covering five appearances, but he went unclaimed in the waivers process and will remain in the organization. Tampa Bay will have an opportunity to continue working with the former top prospect in hopes that it can eventually trigger improvement.
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Rays' Forrest Whitley: DFA'd by Tampa Bay
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The Rays designated Whitley for assignment Saturday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
After being dealt to Tampa Bay from Houston on June 13, Whitley got into five big-league games and allowed 10 runs (eight earned) while posting a 4:2 K:BB over 4.2 innings. All of the runs against him came over his last two outings, one of which was a six-run blow-up against Detroit during which he didn't retire a batter. Whitley's removal from the roster made room for Tampa Bay to call up lefty reliever Joe Rock from Triple-A Durham.
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Rays' Forrest Whitley: Dealt to Tampa Bay
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The Astros traded Whitely to Tampa Bay on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Per Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Astros will receive cash considerations. Whitley was sidelined for a significant portion of the first two months of the 2025 season due to a pair of knee injuries. He stumbled to a 12.27 ERA over 7.1 innings in five appearances with the Astros before being designated for assignment Sunday. The 27-year-old will get a fresh start with the Rays as he tries to reclaim his 2024 form, when he logged a 1.89 ERA over 33.1 innings at Triple-A Sugar Land and threw 3.1 scoreless innings for the Astros.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: DFA'd by Houston
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The Astros designated Whitley for assignment Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander was unavailable for most of the first two-plus months of the season due to a pair of knee injuries, and he's been ineffective since his return with 10 earned runs allowed across 7.1 innings. Whitley, who was a first-round pick in 2016, could receive some interest on waivers given his prospect pedigree.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Activated from injured list
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The Astros activated Whitley (knee) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Whitley has dealt with two separate knee injuries this season that have limited him to only one appearance with the Astros. He tossed two perfect innings with four strikeouts during his most recent rehab assignment and is ready to rejoin the Houston bullpen.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Knee injury resurfaces
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Whitley was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a left knee sprain, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
The right-hander was activated from the injured list last weekend after missing the first few weeks of the season with a bone bruise in the same knee, but he felt something was off while playing catch Saturday and is now back on the shelf after making just one appearance. A return timeline could come into focus Monday once Whitley is further evaluated.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Activated from IL
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The Astros reinstated Whitley (knee) from the injured list Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Whitley landed on the injured list at the start of the season due to a bone bruise in his left knee. He has since made four rehab appearances at Triple-A Sugar Land, allowing three runs while striking out five batters and walking four over 3.2 innings. He'll almost certainly work in low-leverage situations for the Astros; meanwhile, Nick Hernandez will head back to Triple-A.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Nearing activation
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Whitley (knee) will pitch an inning or more Wednesday with Triple-A Round Rock, MLB.com reports.
Whitley has made three appearances with Round Rock, including back-to-back outings Saturday and Sunday. In total, he's thrown 2.2 frames while recording two strikeouts and one walk. Whitley is expected to be activated shortly after his rehab appearance.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Placed on IL
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The Astros placed Whitley (knee) on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Whitley suffered a left knee bone bruise during a March 8 Grapefruit League appearance against the Yankees. He has continued throwing bullpen sessions, but it's unclear when he'll be ready to go on a minor-league rehab assignment.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: IL-bound to start 2025
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Manager Joe Espada confirmed Saturday that Whitley (knee) will start the season on the injured list, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Whitley suffered a bone bruise in his left knee March 8 but has since resumed throwing, hitting 95 mph off flat ground Saturday, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Whitley doesn't seem to be in any discomfort while throwing and will utilize his time on the injured list to make up for lost reps, which bodes well for his chances of returning after a minimum-length stay on the shelf.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Likely to begin season on IL
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Whitley (knee) is not likely to be on the Astros' Opening Day roster, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Whitley suffered the injury in a Grapefruit League game in mid-March and there has been no news of him resuming throwing or other baseball activities. However, general manager Dana Brown did say he expects Whitley to be available at some point in April.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Heads back to minors
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The Astros optioned Whitley to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Whitley allowed two unearned runs while striking out five over 2.2 innings in a couple appearances this week. He threw 48 pitches in Wednesday's blowout loss to the Reds, so the Astros will swap him out for a fresh arm.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Up with big club
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The Astros recalled Whitley from Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
Whitley will receive his first look in the majors since mid-April, when he allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning during his MLB debut. The right-hander has been an effective bullpen piece at Sugar Land this season with a 2.17 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 40:9 K:BB across 29 innings.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Lands on minor-league IL
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Whitley was placed on the minor-league injured list Saturday with right elbow discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Whitley made his major-league debut with the Astros on April 16, allowing one hit and one walk but no runs over two-thirds of an inning against Atlanta. He was sent back to Triple-A Sugar Land after that outing, and he has thrown two scoreless innings while striking out four over his last two appearances in the minors.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Sent back to minors
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The Astros optioned Whitley to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Whitley will return to Triple-A just one day after being recalled for his MLB debut. He allowed one hit and one walk but did not surrender a run through two-thirds of an inning against Atlanta on Tuesday. The 26-year-old's departure opens a spot on the active roster that will presumably be given to Justin Verlander (shoulder) when he returns Friday.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Summoned to big-league bullpen
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The Astros will recall Whitley from Triple-A Sugar Land prior to Tuesday's game versus Atlanta, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Whitley was once one of the top pitching prospects in baseball before his career got sidetracked by numerous injuries and control problems. He got a late start to the season at Sugar Land because of a finger injury but returned to make three appearances, allowing four runs with a 4:2 K:BB over three innings. Whitley will work as a reliever for a bullpen that's in need of a fresh arm.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Sent to minor-league camp
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The Astros optioned Whitley (finger) to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Whitley has been battling finger inflammation for the past couple weeks, and it appears to have cost him a chance at making Houston's Opening Day roster. According to Kawahara, the right-hander recently resumed playing catch and will continue building up as a reliever in minor-league camp. Whitley has primarily worked as a starter throughout his minor-league career but was limited to just 30 frames at Sugar Land last season due to a lat strain, and he wasn't particularly effective prior to the injury with a 5.70 ERA and 5.1 BB/9.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Shut down for one week
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Manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Whitley (finger) has reduced inflammation but won't throw for the next week, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander was scratched from his bullpen session Saturday due to the right middle finger injury, and he'll be shut down for a week as a result. Whitley will need to ramp things back up after the shutdown period, so he likely won't be game-ready until at least mid-March.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Scratched from bullpen session
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Whitley did not participate in his scheduled bullpen session Saturday due to middle finger soreness, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Whitley experienced soreness when warming up for his bullpen session and will be evaluated by doctors. An extended absence could severely impact his chances of landing a relief spot with the Astros to start the season. Whitley appeared in eight Triple-A games in 2023 and registered a 1-2 record with a 5.70 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 32:17 K:BB over 30 innings.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Healthy, will be used in relief
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Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Whitley is healthy and will report to spring training as a reliever, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Whitley didn't make an appearance at Triple-A Sugar Land after late May because of a right lat strain, but he's been throwing this offseason without issue. While the former top prospect will have a chance to win a bullpen job out of spring training, he could be sent back to Sugar Land after the Astros were awarded a fourth option year.