The Rays released Whitley on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

The Rays added Whitley to their 40-man roster earlier this month, but they've now granted him his release so that he can pursue an opportunity with a Japanese club. Whitley holds a career 10.57 ERA over 15.1 big-league innings, but the former top prospect pitched well down the stretch in 2025 at Triple-A Durham, holding a 2.60 ERA and 66:19 K:BB over 55.1 innings.

The Rays selected Whitley to the major-league roster Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Whitley struggled in his 12 big-league innings last season, posting a 13.50 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP across appearances with Houston and Tampa Bay. The 28-year-old posted a more palatable 2.60 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP across 55.1 innings at Triple-A Durham, though.

Whitley logged a 2.60 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 66:19 K:BB in 55.1 innings across 13 appearances for Triple-A Durham since he was designated for assignment June 28.

EDGE Analysis

It wasn't always pristine, as Whitley still mixed in a five-walk outing over four innings Aug. 19, but he was mostly fantastic after losing his spot on the 40-man roster. He had a 13.50 ERA and 12:8 K:BB in 12 innings as s big-league reliever split between the Astros and Rays. Durham's season is over, but with Whitley no longer on the 40-man roster, we may not see him pitch again until spring training. Given how he finished the season, Whitley will likely get another look in the majors sometime in 2026, potentially as a starter.

The Rays outrighted Whitley to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

The Rays designated Whitley for assignment Saturday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

The Astros traded Whitely to Tampa Bay on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

The Astros designated Whitley for assignment Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

The Astros activated Whitley (knee) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Astros manager Joe Espada said that Whitley (knee) is "a possibility" to be activated from the 15-day injured list during the team's three-game series with the Rays that begins Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Whitley has made just one appearance with the Astros this season due to a pair of knee injuries, but he looked sharp in two recent rehab appearances with Triple-A Sugar Land, tossing two perfect innings with four strikeouts. Upon activation, the former top prospect is likely to be used in low-leverage relief spots initially.

Whitley was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a left knee sprain, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.