The Rays announced that right-hander was outrighted to Triple-A Durham. Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times the move. Whitley, once the sports top pitching prospect, went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for a signment over the weekend. It was Jeff Green Jersey the second DFA of the season for the former first-round pick. The Astros had carried Whitley on their 40-man roster for years as he battled injuries and struggled to find the strike zone. They finally pulled the plug in mid-June, flipping him to the Rays after taking him off the 40-man roster. Whitley continued to struggle in his brief run in Kevin Cashs bullpen. He surrendered 10 runs (eight earned) on 10 hits and a pair of walks in 4 2/3 innings. The 67 righty still has a power arsenal led by a 96 MPH fastball. Yet he has given up 18 earned runs in 15 1/3 major league innings over the past two seasons. His 8% swinging strike rate is well below-average. Whitley managed a 1.89 ERA acro s 33 1/3 Triple-A frames as recently as last season, but hes out of minor league options. A claiming team would have needed to carry him on the MLB roster. Whitley had never been outrighted and doesnt have three years of MLB service time. He must accept the a signment and report to Durham. The Rays player development staff will have a few months to try to get him on track. He would qualify for minor league free agency at the end of the season if Tampa Bay doesnt select him back onto the MLB roster before then. Russell Westbrook Jersey