3 Stars Who Transitioned from Trade Chips to MVP Finalists

Three players have emerged as finalists for the 2026 American League and National League Most Valuable Player Awards, as announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Notably, all were acquired in trades before reaching Major League Baseball, a fact appreciated by their respective franchises. The players include Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs.

Yordan Alvarez, DH, Astros (AL MVP Award finalist)

• Original club: Dodgers
• Traded: Aug. 1, 2016
• Trade details: Astros acquire Alvarez; Dodgers acquire RHP Josh Fields

Following a disappointing loss to the Mets in the 2015 NLDS, the Dodgers aimed to strengthen their bullpen and traded Alvarez, a 19-year-old prospect, for Fields, a pitcher with mixed results. The Astros saw potential in Alvarez that the Dodgers overlooked. Since joining the Astros, Alvarez has excelled, earning the AL Rookie of the Year in 2019 and making the All-Star team every year from 2022 to 2026. In 2026, he led MLB in several categories, including batting average (.316) and home runs (42).

Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays (AL MVP Award finalist)

• Original club: Guardians
• Traded: Nov. 19, 2021
• Trade details: Rays acquire Caminero; Guardians acquire RHP Tobias Myers

Caminero was uncertain why he was traded from the Guardians shortly after joining MLB as a raw prospect. Nonetheless, the Rays quickly recognized his unique abilities. After a strong debut season with the Rays, Caminero established himself as a top player, hitting 45 home runs in 2025 and over 40 in 2026, helping the Rays advance to the World Series.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF, Cubs (NL MVP Award finalist)

• Original club: Mets
• Traded: July 30, 2021
• Trade details: Cubs acquire Crow-Armstrong; Mets acquire INF Javier Báez, RHP Trevor Williams, and cash

In 2021, with playoff aspirations, the Mets traded Crow-Armstrong to obtain Báez, a move that ultimately didn’t pan out as the Mets missed the playoffs. After recovering from surgery, Crow-Armstrong made significant strides in his performance, culminating in a powerful 2025 season where he hit 25 home runs, and continued to grow into a top prospect by 2026.