The ALCS game between the Guardians And Rays brought back into the spotlight one of the most infamous trades in Cleveland baseball history – the November 2021 trade that sent Caminero Junior to Tampa Bay in exchange for a right-hander Tobias Myerswho never threw a championship pitch in a Guards uniform. Myers was dealt to the Giants in July 2022, and Myers’ emergence as a quality reliever with the Brewers in 2024 was an additional blow to the Guards, who “couldn’t believe they lost the trade twice,” according to Zack Meisel and Will Sammon of The Athletic.
In their look back at how the seemingly minor Caminero for Myers trade developed, Meisel/Sammon noted that the Rays had discussed Xzavion Curry and three other prospects (none of whom are yet with the Guardians) before finally settling on Caminero. The future All-Star was then a little-regarded 18-year-old prospect who signed with Cleveland in the Dominican Republic in 2019. Rays scout Eduardo Sanchez was particularly credited with liking Caminero’s attitude and maturity, and other Tampa evaluators liked what they saw in Caminero’s swing and hitting potential. The end result was a steal for the Rays, and the Guardians can only hope this trade doesn’t continue to haunt them as they wave a pennant in the direction of Tampa.
With the Guardians taking a 2-1 lead in the ALCS, here’s more on the AL Central…
- Troy Melton was placed on the Tigers” 15-day injured list on September 21 due to right forearm strain, but the team announced to the media today that Melton has no structural damage and will be able to have a normal offseason. Between that forearm issue and elbow inflammation that cost him the first two months of the season, Melton has been limited to 114 1/3 innings in 2026, but he has when even been effective posting a 2.76 ERA over 20 starts (albeit with a low 20% strikeout rate and the benefit of a .248 BABIP. Melton projects to be in Detroit’s rotation next year).
- THE White Sox expect to bring their coaching staff back in 2027, general manager Chris Getz told James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times and other reporters at yesterday’s season-closing news conference. “I think about last offseason and the amount of interviewing and hiring we did, and it definitely paid off.“, Getz said. “Now, having really talented coaches…in our locker room is something that’s maybe a separator for us. And now to really stabilize that, to move that forward, I think it’s going to benefit us..” (MLBTR covered more of Getz’s press conference in an article yesterday.)
- We will begin and end the post with Guardians items, like right-handed Colin Holderman had surgery on his right wrist today. Holderman revealed the upcoming procedure two weeks ago, and Tim Stebbins of MLB.com confirmed today that the procedure is not expected to impact Holderman’s steady pitching progression this offseason or his availability for the start of spring training. This positive news likely ends any chance that Cleveland won’t tender Holderman, who is arbitration eligible and set to make $2.3 million in 2027. Holderman was non-tendered by the Pirates last offseason, then signed by the Guardians to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. The deal proved to be a bargain when Holderman posted a 2.73 ERA in 52 2/3 regular-season innings, although his long-standing wrist problems sent him to the IL on September 4 and kept him out of Cleveland’s playoff run.
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