HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Astros have added right-handed pitcher Tyler Ivey, infielder Freudis Nova, right-handed pitcher Jairo Solis, right-handed pitcher Peter Solomon and right-handed pitcher Forrest Whitley to their 40-man roster tonight. The deadline to protect eligible minor league players from the 2020 Rule 5 Draft was tonight at 5 p.m. CT.

To make room on the 40-man roster for these additions, the Astros outrighted two players, right-handed pitcher Rogelio Armenteros, who was claimed by Arizona, and infielder Jack Mayfield, who was claimed by Atlanta.

Houston also completed two trades with Cincinnati today in separate transactions. The Astros traded right-handed pitcher Brandon Bailey to the Reds in exchange for cash considerations. Additionally, the Astros and Reds finalized their trade from Aug. 9, in which the Astros received left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley. Today, Houston sent minor league right-handed pitcher Fredy Medina as the player to be named later.

The announcements were made by Astros General Manager James Click.

Ivey, 24, has posted an 8-9 record and a 3.07 ERA (69ER/202.1IP), 63 walks and 247 strikeouts in three seasons in the Astros minor league system (2017-19). Due to the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season, Ivey last pitched at Double A Corpus Christi in 2019, where he posted a 4-0 record with a 1.57 ERA (8ER/46IP) and 61 strikeouts in 11 games (8 starts). A native of Rowlett, Texas, Ivey pitched at Texas A&M University and Grayson Junior College in Texas prior to being selected by the Astros in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft.

Nova, 20, is currently ranked by MLB.com as the top position player prospect in the Astros minor league system, and the club’s No. 2 prospect overall. A shortstop, Nova has batted .268 (159x594) with 29 doubles, two triples, 13 homers, 73 RBI and 27 stolen bases in 163 games in the Astros minor league system (2017-19). He last played at Class A Quad Cities in 2019, where he hit .259 (73x282) with 20 doubles and 10 steals as one of the youngest players in the Midwest League at 19 years old. Nova was signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2016 out of the Dominican Republic.

Solis, 20, is ranked by MLB.com as the Astros No. 8 prospect, and has gone 5-7 with a 3.05 ERA (38ER/112IP), 53 walks and 120 strikeouts in two seasons in the Astros minor league system (2017-18). Solis missed the 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He was signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela on July 2, 2016.

Solomon, 24, has gone 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA (28ER/109.1IP), 36 walks and 128 strikeouts in 27 games (16 starts) in Houston’s minor league system (2017-19). He missed the majority of the 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. A 6-foot-4 right-hander, Solomon was selected by the Astros in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of the University of Notre Dame.

Whitley, 23, has been rated by multiple publications as the Astros top prospect, and one of the best prospects in all of baseball. In four seasons in Houston’s minor league system (2016-19), he has gone 9-15 with a 4.71 ERA (103ER/197IP), 95 walks and 289 strikeouts in 57 games (47 starts). Whitley spent the 2020 season working out at the Astros Alternate Training Site in Corpus Christi, Texas. A San Antonio, Texas, native, Whitley was selected by the Astros with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Alamo Heights High School.

Armenteros, 26, missed the entire 2020 season while recovering from surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow. In five appearances (2 starts) at the Major League level with Houston, all in 2019, he posted a 4.00 ERA (8ER/18IP) with 18 strikeouts.

Mayfield, 30, played in 47 games with the Astros over the last two seasons, batting .170 (18x106) with two home runs and eight RBI.

Bailey, 26, debuted for Houston this season, appearing in five games, while posting a 2.45 ERA (2ER/7.1IP).

Medina, 23, last pitched for the GCL Astros in 2019, making seven appearances, including three starts for the club’s rookie level affiliate.

Following today’s transactions, the Astros have 39 active players on their 40-man roster.