Keegan Added to 40-Man Roster, Rays Announce Other Transactions
The Tampa Bay Rays announced several transactions on Tuesday evening involving former Bulls players. 2025 Bulls catcher Dom Keegan was added to the club's 40-man roster, while 2025 infielder Tanner Murray and outfielder Everson Pereira were acquired in a trade by the Chicago White Sox in exchange for right-handers Yoendrys
The Tampa Bay Rays announced several transactions on Tuesday evening involving former Bulls players. 2025 Bulls catcher Dom Keegan was added to the club's 40-man roster, while 2025 infielder Tanner Murray and outfielder Everson Pereira were acquired in a trade by the Chicago White Sox in exchange for right-handers Yoendrys Gomez and Steven Wilson. In addition, 2025 right-hander Eric Orze was acquired by the Minnesota Twins in a trade in exchange for right-hander Jacob Kisting, while 2021-23 Bulls infielder Tristan Gray was acquired in a trade by the Boston Red Sox in exchange for right-hander Luis Guerrero. 2025 Bulls right-hander Forrest Whitley was also released from his contract.
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Keegan accumulated a .241 average (64-266) with 34 runs, 16 doubles, two triples, ten homers and 36 RBI along with a .735 OPS in his first taste of Triple-A ball this year. He also posted a .996 fielding percentage behind the dish, committing just two errors. The 25-year-old was selected by the Rays in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt University.
Murray in 143 games across two seasons with Durham batted .240 (130-542) with 67 runs, 33 doubles, 18 homers and 61 RBI. He spent the entire 2025 campaign with Durham, tallying a .241 clip (126-522) with 67 runs, 29 doubles, 18 homers and 58 RBI, ranking tied for first on the team in doubles and third in RBI. The 26-year-old was selected by Tampa Bay in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of UC Davis.
Pereira began the 2025 campaign in the New York Yankees organization before being acquired by the Rays in a July 31 deal that sent Tampa Bay infielder Jose Caballero to the Yankees. In eight games with Durham, Pereira hit .276 (8-29) with three runs, one double, two homers and five RBI before being promoted to the Rays, where he would play for the remainder of the season. He was signed by the Yankees as an international free agent on July 2, 2017.
Orze appeared in 24 contests for the Bulls this past season, compiling a 4-0 record and 2.20 ERA (28.2 IP) with two saves, adding ten walks and 37 strikeouts with a .192 batting average against and 1.01 WHIP. The right-hander also pitched in 33 games with Tampa Bay, recording a 1-1 mark and 3.02 ERA (41.2 IP), adding 19 walks and 40 strikeouts. The 28-year-old was acquired by the Rays in a March 21, 2025 deal in exchange for OF Jose Siri, and was originally selected by the Mets in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of New Orleans.
Gray in his three seasons with Durham from 2021-23 combined for a .233 average (274-1174), adding 179 runs, 59 doubles, five triples, 71 homers and 220 RBI, and was part of two Triple-A National Championship-winning squads in 2021 and 2022. His 71 longballs are second-most by a Bulls player in the Triple-A Era (since 1988), behind only Chris Richards (84). The 29-year-old began the 2025 campaign in the Chicago White Sox organization, batting .270 (67-248) with 40 runs, 15 doubles, four triples, nine homers and 44 RBI in 72 games with Triple-A Charlotte before being acquired by the Rays in a July 26 trade in exchange for cash considerations. Over his 30 contests with Tampa Bay this year he hit .231 (9-30) with nine runs, five doubles, three homers and nine RBI.
Whitley began the year with the Houston Astros organization before being acquired by Tampa Bay in a June 13 trade in exchange for cash considerations. In 13 appearances (12 starts) with Durham, Whitley compiled a 5-4 record and 2.60 ERA (55.1 IP), adding 19 walks and 66 strikeouts along with a .188 batting average against and 0.99 WHIP. He also appeared in five contests with the Rays, posting no record and 15.43 ERA (4.2 IP).
In addition to Keegan, the Tampa Bay Rays also selected infielder Jadher Areinamo and right-hander Alex Cook to their 40-man roster. Areinamo, 21, hit .285 (69-508) with 69 runs, 32 doubles, two triples, 15 homers and 70 RBI along with a .344 on-base percentage and .789 OPS across 131 games with Double-A Montgomery. Cook, 24, in 13 appearances with the Biscuits compiled a 1-1 record and 2.30 ERA (15.2 IP) with three walks and 18 strikeouts.