The Tampa Bay Rays have added two more players to camp as they have signed right-handed pitcher Kodi Whitley and infielder Jamie Westbrook to minor league deals, bringing the total spring training roster to 74 players.
Whitley, 30, has big league experience in three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. Originally selected in the 27th round of the 2017 draft, he gained some notice as one of the top relief prospects in the Cardinals system. Although he flashed an above-average fastball, he couldn’t be consistent with it. Whitley did make it to the big leagues in 2020 and split the next two years between the upper levels of the minor leagues and in St. Louis. Whitley would be released by the Cardinals in 2023 following a disastrous run in Triple-A; Whitley was picked up by the Braves but didn’t make it off their Triple-A roster and would be released the following spring.
Over his career, Whitley has a 3.38 ERA | 4.00 FIP with a 24.9 K% & 12.4 BB% over 42 2⁄3 IP. If Whitley does find his way onto the Rays roster, he still has one minor league option remaining.
Westbrook, 29, finally reached the big leagues in 2024 with the Boston Red Sox after 11 seasons as a professional. The toolsy 5’7” infielder was originally selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 5th round of the 2013 draft. Over the years, Westbrook outplayed his projections and displayed surping pop as he slugged .510 during the 2015 minor league season and belted 19 HR a few years later between Double-A and Triple-A. However, the Diamondbacks eventually moved on and Westbrook eventually spent time with the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, and the New York Yankees, before finally getting a chance with the Red Sox in 2024; Westbrook hit .150/.234/.350 with 2 HR over 48 plate appearances.
Over the entirety of his minor league career, Westbrook has hit .279/.347/.436 with 132 HR, registering a 114 wRC+ over 5,017 plate appearances. If Westbrook finds his way onto the Rays roster, he still have two minor league options remaining.
