Spring training is right around the corner, and all around the league, clubs are putting the final touches on their offseasons by finalizing minor league depth. Two former Boston Red Sox players have recently found homes in the minor leagues.
Former Red Sox reliever Cam Booser on January 26 signed a minor league deal with the division rival Tampa Bay Rays, (via Ed Hand of Beyond the Monster). Red Sox fans may remember Booser from his heartwarming MLB debut appearance with Boston — after years of injury setbacks which led him to quit baseball, Booser returned to independent ball in 2022, then signed with the Red Sox before the 2023 season on a minor league deal. Boston called him up as a depth relief arm in 2024 and his emotional reaction to his dream come true brought even the most hardened baseball fans to tears.
Booser posted a 3.38 ERA with 43 strikeouts, 16 walks, six holds and a save over 42.2 innings with the Red Sox. Before the 2025 season, the Red Sox traded him to the Chicago White Sox and he didn't have as great a run in the big leagues as he did with Boston (5.52 ERA, 35 strikeouts, 19 walks, nine holds and one save over 31 frames).
The Rays organization excels at developing players, particularly pitchers. Booser could become a real pain in the Red Sox's side if Tampa can work its usual magic with him (but Boston fans will be the first to say he deserves all the success he reaches).
Former Red Sox reliever Cam Booser signs with Rays, longtime WooSox utility man Karson Simas signs with Cubs
The Red Sox lost a longtime minor league utility player to free agency when Karson Simas signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs on January 26. Boston selected Simas in the 25th round of the 2019 MLB Draft and he's been in the minor leagues for all seven years of his time with the organization.
In each of the last two seasons, Simas began in High-A and worked up to Triple-A. Simas batted .244/.313/.331 with a .644 OPS over 87 games between the three levels in 2025. His best work came in Worcester when he batted .328/.406/.426 with an .832 OPS over 19 games. Simas is a solid defender and spent most of his time at second base in 2025, but he also appeared at shortstop, first base, third base, left and right field.
The Red Sox never brought Simas up for his debut as they had better hitting utility players in Triple-A and he was injured for the back half of the 2024 season. Maybe his debut will finally come with the Cubs this coming season.