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MLB rumors: The time Angels almost traded Shohei Ohtani to Rays for Junior Caminero
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- MLB rumors: The time Angels almost traded Shohei Ohtani to Rays for Junior Caminero
MLB rumors: The time Angels almost traded Shohei Ohtani to Rays for Junior Caminero appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Shohei Ohtani 's time with the Los Angeles Angels ended in a whimper, leaving in free agency to sign a mega deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers . However, there is a world where the Angels don't come away empty handed in Ohtani's departure.
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Back in 2023, the Tampa Bay Rays made an offer for Ohtani including now star third baseman Junior Caminero . Angels owner Arte Moreno shot the deal down , creating yet another what-if scenario involving the two-way star, via Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
"Imagine, if in 2023, Shohei Ohtani had unleashed his two-way prowess for the Tampa Bay Rays , if only for a few months," Rosenthal wrote. "Imagine if he had been traded for Junior Caminero, who would now be starring at third base for the Los Angeles Angels instead of the Rays."
"A blockbuster involving those players, carrying mammoth implications for both clubs, was seriously discussed before the 2023 trade deadline, according to people briefed on the conversations," he concluded.
Alongside Caminero, Tampa Bay also offered fellow prospect Carson Williams in the trade. With Ohtani's talent, it's fair to assume more pieces would be involved. Still, even just Caminero and Williams would've set the Angels up for success.
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Caminero was named an All-Star in 2025 after hitting .264 with 45 home runs and 110 RBIs. He has another 13 homers and 27 RBIs in 2026 already. Williams has struggled at the major league level, but he was the team's No. 1 overall prospect in 2025, via MLB Pipeline. The sky remains the limit in terms of his potential.
It's fair to wonder if Ohtani would've stayed in Tampa Bay long-term. He ultimately signed a $700 million deal with the Dodgers , which seems like it would be out of the small market Rays' price range.
But the Angels didn't give them the opportunity to find out. Los Angeles decided against trading Ohtani. And against having an infield built around one of the best third basemen in the league.
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