The Ohtani Trade That Never Was: A Missed Opportunity or a Bullet Dodged?
What if I told you that one of the most fascinating 'what-if' scenarios in recent MLB history involves a trade that never happened? The Tampa Bay Rays, a team not exactly known for splurging on blockbuster deals, reportedly came knocking on the Los Angeles Angels' door in 2023 with an offer for Shohei Ohtani. Yes, that Shohei Ohtani—the two-way phenom who’s redefined what it means to be a baseball superstar. But here’s the twist: Angels owner Arte Moreno shut it down.
The Offer on the Table
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Rays were willing to part with Junior Caminero and Carson Williams, two highly touted prospects, as the centerpiece of a trade package. Caminero, a top-20 prospect at the time, and Williams, a consensus top-100 talent, were no small fish. What makes this particularly fascinating is that the Rays, a team known for their frugality and farm system prowess, were willing to go all-in for a rental player.
Personally, I think this speaks volumes about Ohtani’s value. Even as a short-term acquisition, he was seen as a game-changer. The Rays, despite their 99-win season in 2023, were desperate for a spark—especially after being swept in the wild-card round. Ohtani’s bat alone could have been the difference-maker, even if his pitching was off the table due to a UCL tear.
Why Did Moreno Say No?
Here’s where things get intriguing. The Angels, floundering near the bottom of the AL West, were staring down the barrel of Ohtani’s impending free agency. Holding onto him for a 73-89 season seemed like a bizarre decision. In my opinion, Moreno’s reluctance to pull the trigger was either a massive miscalculation or a stubborn refusal to admit defeat.
What many people don’t realize is that the Angels’ farm system has been barren for years. Trading Ohtani for high-level prospects like Caminero and Williams could have been a much-needed injection of youth and talent. Instead, they’ve since plummeted to the worst record in MLB this season, with a farm system ranked fourth-worst in the league.
The Prospects in Retrospect
Fast forward to 2026, and the story of Caminero and Williams is a study in contrasts. Caminero has blossomed into an All-Star, finishing ninth in AL MVP voting in 2025 and slugging 45 homers. Williams, on the other hand, has struggled in the big leagues, though at just 22, there’s still time for him to turn it around.
If you take a step back and think about it, this non-deal encapsulates the Angels’ two-decade-long struggle to compete. Despite having Ohtani and Mike Trout—arguably the two best players of this era—on their roster, they’ve failed to build a sustainable winner. This raises a deeper question: Is it ownership’s fault, or is there something systemic within the organization that’s holding them back?
The Bigger Picture
This missed trade isn’t just about Ohtani or the Angels’ woes. It’s a microcosm of how teams value superstar talent in today’s MLB. The Rays, despite their small-market status, were willing to gamble big. The Angels, on the other hand, seemed content to let their window close without a fight.
A detail that I find especially interesting is how this reflects the broader trend of teams prioritizing long-term flexibility over short-term gains. The Rays, with their analytics-driven approach, saw Ohtani as a worthier investment than holding onto prospects who might not pan out. The Angels, meanwhile, seemed paralyzed by the fear of losing a superstar, even if it meant missing out on a chance to rebuild.
Final Thoughts
In my opinion, this non-deal will go down as one of the most head-scratching decisions in recent MLB history. Could Ohtani have propelled the Rays to a World Series? Would the Angels be in a better position today if they’d traded him? We’ll never know for sure.
What this really suggests is that in baseball, as in life, timing and decisiveness matter. The Rays took a swing, even if it didn’t connect. The Angels, meanwhile, are still paying the price for standing still.
