Ben Verlander believes the Los Angeles Angels made a franchise-altering mistake by refusing to trade Shohei Ohtani before losing him to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The criticism has only become sharper now that more detail has surfaced about the kind of package the Angels reportedly could have received in 2023.
Instead of landing a young power hitter like Junior Caminero and additional prospects, Los Angeles chased a fading playoff dream, collapsed down the stretch, and watched Ohtani leave for almost nothing in return.
Ben Verlander blasts Los Angeles Angels over the rejected Shohei Ohtani trade package
Ben Verlander on X criticized the Los Angeles Angels after reports resurfaced about a rejected Shohei Ohtani trade offer involving Junior Caminero.
Verlander wrote, “We all knew the Angels NOT trading Shohei Ohtani was a mistake. But now seeing that there was an offer ON THE TABLE to net Junior Caminero (45 homers at 21 years old) and other prospects just makes it that much worse.”
He added, “Rejected an offer to turn the franchise around to chase a <5% chance of making the playoffs. And then in the offseason Shohei asked the Angels if they would match the Dodgers offer, and they wouldn’t.”
The deal in question reportedly involved the Tampa Bay Rays, who discussed a deadline package built around Caminero and shortstop prospect Carson Williams.
At the time, Ohtani was months from free agency, and the Angels were trying to convince themselves they could still force their way into the American League Wild Card picture.
Los Angeles Angels lost Shohei Ohtani gamble while Junior Caminero became Tampa Bay Rays star
The hindsight is brutal because the Angels’ playoff chase quickly fell apart while Caminero developed into exactly the kind of young cornerstone the organization badly needed.
“So in the end they finished 73-89 and lost him in Free Agency to the Dodgers for nothing but a draft pick,” Verlander continued.
He concluded, stating: “I can’t even begin to explain what a horrible business decision that was and it will haunt the organization for decades.”
The Angels finished 73-89 in 2023, missed the playoffs again, and received only a compensatory draft pick after Ohtani signed his historic 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers.
Caminero’s rise makes the decision look even worse. The Rays infielder hit 45 home runs at 21 years old, giving Tampa Bay a middle-order bat with superstar power and years of team control.
For the Angels, the failure was not simply losing Ohtani. It was losing the chance to convert his final months into the foundation of a rebuild.
Verlander’s point is harsh, but the timeline supports it. The Angels chose a slim short-term chance, missed anyway and gave away the kind of future-changing return that could have softened the end of the Ohtani era.
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