A trade that barely registered at the time has turned into one of those deals Cleveland can’t shake.
Back on Nov. 19. 2021, the Guardians sent Junior Caminero to the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Tobias Myers.
The move happened in the weeks after the 2021 World Series, and at the time Caminero was only 18 years old. Cleveland had signed him as an international free agent when he was 16 for a bonus of less than $100,000, and he had just logged his first action for the organization in the Dominican Summer League, where he hit nine home runs and batted .295.
Even then, the path to Cleveland looked crowded. Jose Ramirez was already in place, and it seemed like Caminero’s climb could be blocked for years. But Tampa Bay saw enough to push for him anyway.
The Rays were shopping for a prospect because they needed to move Tobias Myers ahead of the 2021 Rule 5 Draft, and they wanted someone who didn’t need to be on the 40-man roster. Cleveland reportedly offered three other prospects, but Tampa Bay kept coming back to Caminero, and that was the piece that got the deal done.
Myers never stuck in the organization. He made 14 starts for Triple-A Columbus, went 1-9 with a 6.00 ERA, and was designated for assignment in July 2022. He later reached the majors in 2024 and now pitches in Triple-A for the New York Mets.
Caminero’s rise has been a different story entirely. He reached the majors in 2023, had another brief stint the next year, and then became a full-time player last season.
He hit 45 home runs and drove in 110 runs. This year, with 35 games left, he has 35 homers and 81 RBIs.
Bleacher Report analyst Zachary D. Rymer thinks that’s exactly why the trade still stings for Cleveland, especially with the Guardians near the bottom of the league in power.
As Rymer wrote: “Caminero was a consensus top-five prospect by the time he was entering the 2024 season in the Rays’ system. Cut to now, and his 80 home runs across the last two seasons are the most of any hitter in the American League.
Even if Caminero plays the same position as Jose Ramirez, the Guardians sure could use his bat right now. They’re third from the bottom of MLB with a total of 120 home runs,”
And with Caminero thriving for the Rays, who own the best record in the American League, that old swap looks a lot different now than it did in 2021.
In Other News...
Guardians Face A Tough Center Field Decision Fans Can See Coming
The Guardians are staring at one of those decisions that can shape a roster for years, and it is already easy to see why center field is becoming such a focal point. Steven Kwan remains the most established name in the mix, while the organization also has a cluster of younger possibilities in Petey Halpin, Kahlil Watson, Aaron Walton and Jaison Chourio, each bringing a different blend of defense, offense and long-term appeal. For a club that has built so much around finding value before it gets expensive, this is exactly the kind of position where the front office has to balance certainty against upside.
Kwans case is the cleanest in the short term because he has already shown he can handle the job, but the larger question is how far Cleveland wants to go in trying to make him part of the future beyond that. The prospects behind him add intrigue, though none arrives with the same level of certainty, which leaves the Guardians weighing development timelines against the contract realities that usually drive these calls. Center field rarely stays quiet for long, and this is one of those situations where the answer may not be obvious until the club is forced to choose. [Read more 🡒]
Former Guardians Outfielder Just Got Another Shot To Finally Break Through
Johnathan Rodrguez is getting another chance to push his way back into the picture, this time with the Athletics, who claimed the outfielder off waivers from the Pirates and sent him to Triple-A Las Vegas. For a player who has already been designated for assignment by both the Guardians and Orioles this year, the move keeps him in the game and in front of a club that suddenly has room to look for help.
Oaklands outfield injuries could make this a more meaningful landing spot than a typical waiver stop. Rodrguez still has to do the work in Las Vegas, but the path is a little clearer now, and the next stretch could determine whether this becomes just another transaction on his resume or the opening he has been waiting for. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Suddenly Have A Depth Problem They Cant Yet Explain
Rhys Hoskins landing on the injured list with a back injury was the latest reminder that Clevelands margin for error is getting thinner by the day. The Guardians answered by bringing up David Fry to take his roster spot, but the move came amid a broader injury picture that has started to nibble at the teams depth in a real way. Jo Adell has been working back from a lower-body issue, while Chase DeLauter is also dealing with one and is expected back soon.
For a club that has leaned on versatility and roster flexibility, the concern now is less about one absence than the possibility of a chain reaction. Cleveland is already looking at possible reinforcement options such as Daniel Schneemann, Kahlil Watson and Cooper Ingle if the outfield situation worsens, which tells you how quickly the conversation has shifted from filling one hole to preparing for more. The Guardians do not have a full-blown emergency yet, but the next injury might force them into a harder decision than theyd prefer. [Read more 🡒]