- May 21, 2026
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Cleveland Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti told reporters the club expects Steven Kwan to be "a big part of a contending team next year." That carefully worded statement leaves the door open for a trade, and speculation around the two-time All-Star is not going away.
Kwan is projected to earn $11.3 million in his final arbitration season before free agency in 2028. The Guardians have historically moved expensive veterans early to restock talent, though Kwan's elite defense — four Gold Gloves from 2022-25 — and steady presence in a weak outfield make him valuable to Cleveland.
His bat remains streaky. After a .614 OPS in his first 354 plate appearances in 2026, Kwan rebounded to .875 after the All-Star break. He posted a 114 wRC+ for the season with a career-high 13.3% walk rate.
The Phillies, Padres, and Blue Jays were among teams linked to Kwan at the 2025 deadline and still profile as fits. A looming lockout complicates matters, as teams may hesitate to trade prospects for one-year rentals before December 1.
Mickey's Angle: Kwan's final arbitration price and impending free agency make him a prime trade candidate, but Cleveland's own contention window and the lockout uncertainty mean he might not move until late winter — if at all. Keep an eye on Philadelphia and Toronto as logical landing spots.
Source: MLB Trade Rumors - written by Mickey the Mouth from the original report.