Here's What The Tampa Bay Rays Gave Up in Trade For Former Top Prospect

The Rays acquired right-handed pitcher Forrest Whitley on Thursday from the Houston Astros, with cash considerations going the other way.

Houston Astros relief pitcher Forrest Whitley (60) delivers a pitch during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Minute Maid Park on April 16. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Update, 3:50 p.m. ET: The Rays sent the Astros cash in the deal, according to the Rays PR staff.

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired RHP Forrest Whitley from the Houston Astros for cash considerations.

— Rays Communications (@RaysPR) June 13, 2025

2:40 p.m. ET: The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired former Top-100 prospect Forrest Whitley in a deal with the Houston Astros, according to a report from Brian McTaggart of MLB.com:

Source: The Astros have traded RHP Forrest Whitley to the Rays.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 13, 2025

At this time, the return is not known, but it's not expected to be much considering that Whitley was just designated for assignment by Houston.

A former Top-100 prospect in the sport, Whitley was ranked as the No. 41 prospect in 2021 by MLB Pipeline. He was as high as No. 19 during the 2020 campaign and reached No. 7 in 2019.

Now 27, he's a former first-round pick of the Astros (No. 17) out of high school. He's appeared in just eight major league games in his career, going 0-0 with an 8.44 ERA. The hope is that a change of scenery and proximity to the Rays' pitching lab can help him re-find the form that made him a top prospect. He started just one game in 2024 at the minor league level, making 32 relief appearances, so it's unclear if the Rays see him as a bullpen piece or as a possible rotation option in the future.

Whitley has elite swing-and-miss stuff, and he struck out 46 batters in 34.0 minor league innings last season.

The Rays enter play on Friday at 36-32 and in third place in the American League East. They'll take on the New York Mets at 7:10 p.m. ET as Taj Bradley (TBR) pitches against Clay Holmes.

Bradley has gone 4-5 with a 4.58 ERA. We'll have more on this story as it develops.