The Cleveland Guardians are already staring down a massive question mark this offseason, right after their ALCS run came to a halt. They lost in six games, dropping out of the postseason hunt despite a valiant effort from an offense that was clearly shaky. Now, with the dust barely settled, all eyes are on Gold Glove outfielder Steven Kwan and whether he’s played his last game in a Guardians uniform.
The Whispers Have Grown Into A Roar For Kwan’s Future
Look, the trade rumors around Steven Kwan are nothing new. We’ve heard them for years. But according to MLB insider Robert Murray of Fansided.com, those whispers are about to turn into a full-blown roar now that the Guardians are out of the postseason. Murray revealed an update on Kwan’s trade market, and honestly, it doesn’t look good for Cleveland keeping him beyond the 2026 MLB season. He barely even stuck with the team through the 2025 trade deadline, and at 29 years old, Kwan is heading into the final year of arbitration before he hits free agency. For a team like the Guardians, who typically don’t go big on spending, moving Kwan now to get some real value back just makes a ton of sense. He’s a great fielder and a solid hitter, even if he’s not launching a ton of home runs. They know they can get something good for him.
Rivals Are Already Circling The Waters
Murray’s report isn’t just speculation, either. He shared that rivals are already sniffing around, with “some rivals believing a trade this winter is possible.” One individual even told Murray, “Always fair [to wonder that] in Cleveland,” when it comes to moves like this. It really sounds like Kwan could be on the move this offseason, and you can bet there are plenty of teams who would jump at the chance to add a Gold Glove outfielder like him. Murray specifically named the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs as potential landing spots. While Kwan has been a key part of that Guardians franchise for the last few years, Murray’s report flat out states that a trade “wouldn’t shock anyone.” So yeah, it seems 2026 might very well have been the last season for Kwan in Cleveland, at least for now.
This winter is going to be a huge one for the Guardians as they figure out how to navigate the offseason without their Gold Glover. It’ll be fascinating to see where Kwan lands and what Cleveland gets in return.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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