season was the August 18 game against the Mets in Monterrey, Mexico, which saw him play with dehydration and diarrhea. With liters of intravenous fluid received alongside a Snickers bar, Caminiti hit two home runs in the victory over the Mets. In spite of Caminiti's three home runs, the Padres were swept by the St. Louis Cardinals in three games in the NLDS. Despite playing most of 1996 with a torn right rotator cuff, his performance earned him his second All-Star Game appearance, and he became the fifth player to be unanimously voted National League Most Valuable Player Award. He dropped off slightly in 1997, but remained productive, batting .290 with 26 home runs and 90 RBIs, and was voted the National League's starting third baseman for the All Star Game. Injuries took their toll, and Caminiti's batting average fell to .252 in , though he maintained his power numbers. This season saw Caminiti make the World Series for the only time in his career, where the Padres were swept by a juggernaut New York Yankees team that had won a then-AL record 114 games. He had two total hits in the series and batted .143. Return to Astros and end of career After 1998, the Padres did not attempt to re-sign the free agent eligible Caminiti in a cost-saving move. Despite reportedly being offered more money by the Detroit Tigers, Caminiti returned to Houston on a $9.5 million contract with an option for a third year at $5.5 million. Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker endorsed the signing, describing Caminiti as "the ultimate gamer." While he remained productive, injuries limited Caminiti to 137 games with the Astros between 1999 and 2000. In the 1999 National League Division Series against Atlanta and batted .471 with three of his eight hits being home runs. He drove in eight of Houston's total 15 runs in the four game series loss to the Braves. His season was ended by a wrist injury in mid-June, and Caminiti left the team in early September to enter a substance abuse rehabilitation center. Before , Caminiti signed for $3.25 million with the Texas Rangers, where he hit just .232 over the first three months of the season. He requested his release from the Rangers, which was granted on July 2. Three days later, he signed with the Atlanta Braves, who moved him across the infield due to the presence