Rays Star Junior Caminero's AL MVP Chances May Be Better Than You Think

It could be a big season for the Tampa Bay Rays.  The team currently leads the New York Yankees by 6.5 games for the AL division lead and is also a strong candidate for the AL MVP.  But just how possible is it for a player such as Junior Caminero to knock off Houston Astros designated hitter Jordan Alvarez for the top spot and bring the award to Tampa Bay?  It may be closer than many think.  Caminero is off to a great season and is on pace for his second straight year of 45 or more homers. He is also tied with Alvarez in this category, despite having 10 fewer RBIs. The third baseman obviously brings a good amount of value to the team compared to a designated hitter spot in fielding alone. However, it may not be enough to dethrone Alvarez still when it comes to winning the award.  Earlier this week, Matt Snyder of CBS Sports questioned if Alvarez has competition for the award and believes that the race is not as big of a blowout as the odds are suggesting. He stated, "I'm simply saying I really don't think this race is over. Again, it isn't slump-proof, and we know about Alvarez's injury history." And honestly, that might be the only way that Caminero takes the top spot, as if Alvarez takes a step backward.  Regardless, it is a huge step in the right direction for Caminero, as he finished ninth in voting last year, and it seems like he will be a sure thing for at least runner-up in 2026. But because of how good the Rays are doing, leading the American League with the best record in the junior circuit, it could help his voting, something we've seen in the past.  "At times in awards voting, when there's a team this dominant, the urge is to find the best player on that team, and it would be Caminero," said Snyder. "I love Caminero, and he's having a huge year for the best team in this league, but there's a big gap here everywhere we look. He'll need an Alvarez injury or a big slump." The next month will obviously be telling, and we'll see if Caminero can keep his hot streak as well as keep the Rays with the best record in the American League. If they can hold off the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox and enter the postseason as the top seed in the AL, and Caminero finds himself once again over 45 home runs and close to a hundred RBIs on the season, it'll be hard to keep him away from first-place votes. The biggest question, though, is whether he'll receive enough votes to win the award. Regardless, it's a much better season than he had in 2025, and at only 23 years old, the future is certainly bright for Tampa Bay.