Full Breakdown
Missed Trade: Angels' Decision Not to Deal Shohei Ohtani for Junior Caminero
5/21/2026, 9:33:44 PM
The Proposed Trade
Ken Rosenthal reported that the Los Angeles Angels explored a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays that would have sent two-way star Shohei Ohtani to Tampa Bay for a package centered on third-base prospect Junior Caminero and shortstop Carson Williams. Negotiations occurred before the 2023 trade deadline, but owner Arte Moreno rejected the proposal.
Background
Shohei Ohtani was a two-way star for the Angels, contributing as both pitcher and hitter. He left in free agency after the 2023 season and signed a $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving the Angels without compensation.
Key Figures
Shohei Ohtani (former Angel, now Dodger); Junior Caminero (22-year-old Rays prospect, 2025 All-Star); Carson Williams (shortstop, Rays’ top prospect in 2025); Arte Moreno (Angels owner); Ken Rosenthal (reporter).
Data & Statistics
Caminero has logged 65 homers, 162 RBIs, 257 hits, 143 runs and 6.1 bWAR in 252 games, posting a .261 average and .822 OPS. In 2025 he hit .264 with 45 homers and 110 RBIs; by mid-2026 he added 13 homers and 27 RBIs, and his OPS+ is 142. Williams, while yet to succeed at the major-league level, was ranked the Rays’ No. 1 prospect in 2025 by MLB Pipeline.
Why It Matters
Acquiring Caminero would have given the Angels a proven power bat at third base and a controllable young asset, potentially improving a roster described as one of the league’s weakest after Ohtani’s departure. The trade could have altered the team’s competitive trajectory.
Official Statements & Responses
The report notes that Arte Moreno “shot the deal down,” signaling a clear refusal. No public comment from the Rays or from Ohtani’s representatives appears in the sources.
Criticism & Opposition
Both articles label the decision a “huge missed opportunity,” arguing that the Angels’ reluctance to move on from Ohtani contributed to their current roster challenges.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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.” — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
- “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,” — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
- “The other would have been shortstop Carson Williams, who was then a 20-year-old at High A.” — Ken Rosenthal, 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,” — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
What’s Next
No further negotiations or official follow-up have been reported. The scenario remains a hypothetical used to illustrate the Angels’ roster-building challenges.
