Why Rays’ Junior Caminero must win AL MVP over Yordan Alvarez appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Yordan Alvarez has the superior rate statistics, but the American League MVP should recognize the player whose complete season has generated the greatest value in the games that matter. By that standard, Rays third baseman Junior Caminero deserves the award.
Caminero has powered Tampa Bay to the top of the American League while playing nearly every day at a demanding defensive position. Alvarez has produced a remarkable offensive season, but most of his work has come as Houston’s designated hitter for a .500 team. When voters consider power, defense, team performance and September impact, Caminero has the stronger all-around case.
Caminero’s Value Goes Beyond Offense
Through Friday, Caminero is batting .277 with a .365 on-base percentage, .533 slugging percentage, .898 OPS, 41 home runs, 97 RBIs and 94 runs. He leads the AL in homers, ranks third in RBIs and owns the league’s 10th-best OBP. His underlying numbers support that production: Caminero has a 92.8 mph average exit velocity, 49.9% hard-hit rate and 13.2% barrel rate.
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Alvarez has unquestionably been the better pure hitter. The Astros slugger owns a .312 average, .431 OBP, 1.031 OPS, 40 home runs and 99 RBIs. Those numbers explain why he remains the favorite, but MVP voting cannot become an automatic award for the league’s best designated hitter.
Caminero has started every game in the field rather than at DH, while Alvarez had made 126 starts at designated hitter by mid-September. Although Caminero struggled defensively early, his Fielding Run Value moved into positive territory beginning in June. That improvement matters because Tampa Bay has received both middle-of-the-order power and increasingly competent defense from one roster spot.
The availability component also favors Caminero. He has played 153 games, compared with 150 for Alvarez, giving Tampa Bay everyday production throughout a division-winning race. Caminero’s 78 walks also reflect enormous progress from the 41 he drew in 2025, lifting his OBP by more than 50 points while maintaining elite power.
Winning Must Break the Tie
The standings provide the clearest separation. Tampa Bay is 93-60, has clinched a postseason berth and owns a +78 run differential. Houston is 77-77 with a -54 differential and remains in a weak AL West race. The Rays have won 16 more games despite operating without the financial advantages or star-heavy roster associated with perennial contenders.
JUNIOR CAMINERO SENDS THE RAYS TO THE POSTSEASON IN STYLE 🔥
Enjoying this article? Support our work with a small crypto donation.Tampa Bay has officially clinched a playoff spot thanks to a 2-run walk-off homer from their superstar! pic.twitter.com/7rk8smUKBz
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) September 12, 2026
This is not an argument that a player on a mediocre team can never win MVP. Alvarez has been spectacular enough to deserve serious consideration. But when two candidates both reach 40 home runs and approach 100 RBIs, meaningful team impact should become a deciding factor.
Caminero has also strengthened his case during the stretch run. He hit seven homers in August and reached 40 with a walk-off blast that clinched Tampa Bay’s playoff berth. Alvarez, meanwhile, cooled considerably after August 8, batting .256/.390/.470 with five homers and 13 RBIs over his next 35 games. That contrast matters because Caminero elevated his performance as Tampa Bay secured October baseball.
Alvarez’s offensive advantage is substantial, and his roughly 1.030 OPS cannot be dismissed. Yet Caminero combines an AL-leading home-run total, everyday defense, durability and central importance to the league’s best team. He also became the second-youngest player ever to record consecutive 40-homer seasons, trailing only Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews.
The award is called Most Valuable Player, not Most Outstanding Hitter. Alvarez has the best offensive line, but Caminero has delivered the more complete and consequential season. For that reason, the Rays’ young cornerstone should be the 2026 American League MVP.
Related: Rays get key player back from IL ahead of MLB playoffs
Related: Why Astros’ Yordan Alvarez must win AL MVP over Junior Caminero
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