Rays Sign Reliever Cam Booser to Minor League Deal

This article takes a look at the Tampa Bay Rays’ decision to bring in veteran left-handed reliever Cam Booser on a minor-league deal. What does this mean for the team, and how does Booser’s skill set fit what the Rays need in their bullpen?

Could he really end up on the Opening Day roster if spring training goes his way? Maybe. Let’s see.

Rays Add Veteran Left-Handed Depth

The Tampa Bay Rays quietly made an interesting bullpen move by signing left-handed reliever Cam Booser to a minor-league contract. They’ve invited him to major-league camp as a non-roster player.

This move won’t make big headlines, but it’s classic Rays. They love these calculated depth signings to keep their pitching staff steady.

Booser, 33, brings experience, velocity, and some real swing-and-miss stuff to a team that’s pretty light on left-handed relief right now. The Rays always seem to find value in arms that other teams overlook or undervalue.

Booser’s Recent Major League Track Record

Last season, Booser pitched for the Chicago White Sox and logged 31 innings in the majors. He also threw another 14 2/3 innings at Triple-A.

Before that, he spent 2024 with Boston and tossed 42 2/3 major-league innings. So, he’s got a decent two-year MLB sample to work with.

Across 73 2/3 total big-league innings between Boston and Chicago, Booser put up a 4.28 ERA with a 23.9% strikeout rate and a 10.7% walk rate. The strikeouts look pretty good, but those walks are still a big issue for him.

Pitch Mix and Performance Indicators

Booser isn’t your typical soft-tossing lefty. He throws hard and leans on power stuff to miss bats.

But, like most hard throwers, his results can swing from outing to outing.

Velocity, Swing-and-Miss, and Contact Quality

His four-seam fastball averages 95.5 mph. He pairs it with an 88 mph cutter and an 81.7 mph slider.

That mix helped him post a 13% swinging-strike rate in the majors, which backs up his strikeout numbers.

Looking at contact, Booser’s metrics are pretty much league average for relievers:

He’s not getting shelled every outing, but he doesn’t have a huge margin for error either.

The Fly-Ball Risk and Command Concerns

One thing that stands out about Booser is his extreme fly-ball profile. He gets ground balls on just 31% of balls in play.

That’s risky, especially when you add in his command issues. It’s been a problem for him for a while, even when he was striking guys out in the minors.

In smaller parks or against teams with power, missing spots can turn into trouble fast.

Why Tampa Bay Sees Opportunity

The Rays know the risks, but they also see the potential upside. They just traded Mason Montgomery, which leaves Garrett Cleavinger as the only established left-hander in their bullpen.

That opens the door for someone like Booser. And hey, maybe he’ll make the most of it.

A Legitimate Shot at Opening Day?

Given the Rays’ limited non-roster additions so far, Booser’s path to relevance actually looks clearer than you might think.

If he has a strong spring—finding the zone, mixing in his cutter and slider, just showing he can command the ball—he could end up in that Opening Day conversation.

For Tampa Bay, it feels like a low-risk move that could pay off.

For Booser, it’s another shot to finally stick at the big-league level and maybe even claim a real bullpen spot.

If any team knows how to squeeze value from a power lefty with some rough edges, it’s probably the Rays.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Rays, Cam Booser Agree To Minor League Deal