The Tampa Bay Rays continued to work through the offseason on Tuesday by announcing a trade and the release of a pitcher.
The Tampa Bay Rays Acquired right-hander Luis Guerrero from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for infielder Tristan Gray and granted right-hander Forrest Whitley his release to pursue a playing opportunity in Japan, the team announced Tuesday.
Guerrero, 25, brings another arm to Tampa Bay’s stable of relievers. He has appeared in 22 games for the Red Sox since the organization drafted him in the 17th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. On the other hand, Gray’s second tenure with the Rays comes to a close.
Tampa Bay received Gray in a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018 after he was drafted by the latter in 2017. He made his MLB debut on Sept. 16, 2023, appearing only in two games for the club in which he logged two hits in five at-bats, including a home run. Two months after his major league debut, Gray became a free agent and signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins.
Gray, 29, appeared in only seven games with the Marlins in 2024 before the Athletics claimed him off waivers from Miami. He appeared in eight games for the Athletics, logging a .143 batting average.
Last October, Gray experienced a brief reunion with the team that drafted him when the Pirates claimed him off waivers from the Athletics. On Jan. 28, Gray elected free agency before signing with the White Sox two days later.
Gray returned to the Rays via trade in which the White Sox received cash considerations on July 26. He appeared in 30 games for Tampa Bay and logged a .231 average through 78 at-bats.
Whitley came to Tampa Bay in a June 13 trade with the Houston Astros for cash. Whitley faced difficulties on the mound last season, making five troublesome outings with the Astros in which he registered a 12.27 ERA. Three of those appearances came against the Rays, where he gave up eight hits, 10 earned runs and two home runs in less than three innings.
Things did not turn around in Tampa, as the 27-year-old San Antonio native logged a 15.43 ERA over 4.2 innings while allowing 10 hits and 10 runs (eight earned) in five appearances. After surrendering three hits, four runs (two earned) and two walks in a disastrous 22-8 loss against the Baltimore Orioles on June 27, the Rays decided to designate Whitley for assignment.
Whitley’s release to play in Japan comes less than a week after the team released first baseman Bob Seymour so he could pursue a playing opportunity in Asia.