If Steven Kwan really is off the table, the Cubs may still have a Cleveland outfield bat to keep an eye on this winter.
Kwan has been floated as a possible Chicago target this offseason, but the latest indication out of the Guardians is that he’ll be back on their roster next year. That could be a smokescreen, of course. If it isn’t, then Jo Adell starts to look like the more realistic name for the Cubs to circle.
Adell is heading into his final year of arbitration, and that matters. Cleveland has built a reputation over the past decade by moving players before they reach free agency, and if the Guardians are determined to keep Kwan, Adell fits the kind of player they might be willing to deal instead.
His path to this point has been uneven. A former top prospect with the Los Angeles Angels, Adell debuted in 2020 but didn’t finally put together a season with a wRC+ above 100 until 2025. That year, he launched 37 home runs and finished with a 114 wRC+.
The start of the 2026 season brought some regression, but the power was still enough to draw Cleveland in at the deadline. After the trade, Adell hit seven home runs over his final 48 regular-season games and posted a 107 wRC+.
For the Cubs, he wouldn’t be a clean fit everywhere. Strikeouts remain part of the package, and while he had that game earlier this season when he robbed three home runs, defense is not his calling card.
Still, there’s a clear appeal. Chicago is going to need power next season, assuming there isn’t a return of Ian Happ or Seiya Suzuki.
And with only one season of control left, Adell could be a relatively affordable way to add some thump to the lineup. The Cubs had interest last offseason when the Angels were reportedly open to moving him for pitching, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they checked back in now that he’s in Cleveland.
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