He signed as a minor league free agent with the Baltimore Orioles on January 14, 1997. He spent most of the next three seasons with the Rochester Red Wings of the International League. Forbes made his Major League debut as a defensive replacement for the Orioles at second base in the ninth inning on July 21, 1998 against the Oakland Athletics. In his first start, on July 26, 1998 against the Seattle Mariners he was hitless in three at-bats. In 9 games with the Orioles in 1998, he had only one hit in 10 at-bats. His one hit, the first of his Major League career, was an RBI single to left field in the ninth inning on July 31, 1998 off Jim Pittsley of the Kansas City Royals. He was elected to the Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame in 2006.
Texas Rangers
He was sent to the Texas Rangers as part of a conditional deal on May 27, 1999 and played for the Oklahoma RedHawks in 22 games during that season.
Philadelphia Phillies
Forbes signed as a minor league free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies on November 2, 1999. He remained in the Phillies system through 2002, playing mostly with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons in AAA. He did play in three games for the Phillies in the 2001 season and has two hits in seven at-bats.