The Rays have spent the past few weeks bouncing between good stretches and rough ones, but they’re still sitting in first place in the American League and hanging onto that edge. Even after a 2-5 homestand, then another series loss to the Orioles on the road, Tampa Bay got a cleaner start Monday against the Detroit Tigers. Entering Tuesday, the club remained 25 games over .500 and still has its eyes on a World Series path that runs through Tampa Bay.
That team success has created room for individual recognition, too. MLB.com recently asked 37 of its experts to pick the AL MVP, and Junior Caminero landed second in the voting behind an MVP front-runner with Triple-Crown buzz.
The player sitting in front of him is Yordan Alvarez, and the Astros slugger has put himself in position to win the whole thing. Alvarez is batting .320/.436/.613 with 36 home runs and 90 RBI, and he currently leads the league in the categories that matter for a Triple Crown push. If he finishes that chase, the MVP case almost writes itself.
Caminero, though, has been more than just a runner-up in the conversation. The Rays infielder has put together a season worthy of serious attention, hitting .277/.364/.531 with 35 home runs and 84 RBI. He’s just behind Alvarez in both home runs and RBI, and with a little over a month left, there’s still time for him to close the gap.
It’s still a steep climb for Caminero, no question. But he’s in the race, and Tampa Bay’s performance down the stretch could matter in the final vote. A lot can change in a month.
In Other News...
Former Rays Infielder Emerges In Astros GM Search
The Astros offseason search for a new general manager could have a familiar name attached to it, and for Rays followers it is a name with old ties. Houston fired Dana Brown, leaving owner Jim Crane to oversee baseball operations in the interim, and the club is expected to conduct a full search before the winter settles in. MLB Networks Jon Morosi has already floated Will Rhymes as a possible candidate, a noteworthy mention given his path from the field to the front office.
Rhymes spent time as a Major League infielder before moving into the executive side, where he is now part of the Dodgers front office. For a Rays audience, it is the kind of cross-check from the baseball world that stands out because it connects an old player development name to one of the sports more aggressive organizations. Whether Houston truly gravitates toward that profile remains to be seen, but the search is just getting started and Rhymes is at least on the radar. [Read more 🡒]
Former Rays Arm Zack Littell Suddenly Faces A Harsh New Reality
Zack Littells season has taken another sharp turn, with the Arizona Diamondbacks placing the former Rays right-hander on release waivers after designating him for assignment. Littell had only recently landed in Arizona after starting the year with the Washington Nationals, but his brief run with the Diamondbacks never found much footing.
In 12 innings for Arizona, Littell allowed 10 earned runs and five home runs, a stretch that left him in a difficult spot almost as soon as he arrived. For Tampa Bay, it is another reminder of how quickly pitching careers can swing from one opportunity to the next, especially for a pitcher trying to hold onto a role in the big leagues. [Read more 🡒]
Junior Caminero Is Giving Rays Fans A Franchise Cornerstone To Believe In
Junior Caminero keeps giving Rays fans another reason to treat this season as more than a hot start. ESPNs midseason list of the top 50 players put the young infielder at No. 7, a ranking that reflects how quickly he has moved from promising talent to one of the games most productive hitters. In a year when Tampa Bay has spent meaningful time atop the AL East, Caminero has been a central part of the lineups force, pairing loud power with a more controlled approach at the plate.
The offensive growth has stood out as much as the numbers themselves. Caminero has drawn walks at a strong rate while cutting down on strikeouts, and his production has put him near the top of the American League in home runs, RBIs, OPS and slugging percentage. For a Rays club that has often had to develop its identity on the fly, his rise is starting to look less like a breakout and more like the foundation of something longer lasting. [Read more 🡒]