The Chicago Cubs have plenty on their plate this offseason, and the outfield is right near the top of the list. With the 2026 season ending in a quick NL Wild Card exit, the front office is staring at real uncertainty, especially with Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ both headed for free agency.
That’s why a trade idea involving Cleveland Guardians Gold Glove outfielder Steven Kwan has surfaced as a possible fix. Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report laid out the framework this way: "Cleveland Guardians send: OF Steven Kwan (arbitration-eligible in 2027). Chicago Cubs send: RHP Jaxon Wiggins (Triple-A prospect), UTIL James Tiantos (controllable through at least 2032)."
On the surface, Kwan checks an obvious box. He’s a premium defender, and the Cubs understand better than most how much value clean outfield play can bring. If the goal is to stabilize one corner of the roster, a four-time Gold Glove winner certainly looks appealing.
But the fit gets shaky fast.
Kwan is entering the final year of his club control, which makes him a short-term answer at best. If Chicago can re-sign Happ or Suzuki, then paying prospect capital for Kwan starts to look like a poor use of resources. And if both outfielders leave, Kwan still isn’t the kind of bat that changes the whole lineup.
His offensive profile is solid, but not scary. In five seasons, he has 801 hits, 238 RBIs and 39 homers.
This year, he’s posted 152 hits with three home runs and 32 RBIs. He’s a career .282 hitter with a .739 OPS and 110 OPS+, numbers that are respectable but not exactly the kind of production that justifies dealing away controllable talent.
That’s the heart of the issue for Chicago. Kwan brings defense, contact and reliability, but not enough pop to make him a true difference-maker in the middle of an offseason where the Cubs need more than a patchwork fix. Giving up prospects for a one-year rental only makes sense if the return is much bigger than this.
If the Cubs are going to address the outfield, the smarter path would be to find someone they can keep longer term - or simply shop for a rental in free agency instead of paying prospect value for one in a trade.
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