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.
In Other News...
Guardians Loss Put Cleveland's Next Roster Decisions Front And Center
The Guardians season hung in the balance in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the White Sox, and with that urgency came an offseason conversation that was already starting to take shape. Cleveland has a cluster of free agents to sort through, including Austin Hedges, Rhys Hoskins, Nathaniel Lowe, Shawn Armstrong and Foster Griffin, all of whom have factors that will matter as the front office looks ahead to roster construction and the margins that can swing a year.
If the series reaches Game 4, Parker Messick is expected to get the ball, adding another layer to a team already navigating the pressure of October. Messick and manager Stephen Vogt both addressed the challenge of handling the environment around a game like this, a reminder that Clevelands present and future are suddenly colliding at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
Steven Kwan Sends A Clear Message As Guardians Face Elimination
The Guardians have been here before, staring at another elimination game with their season hanging by a thread. Cleveland has stumbled badly in these spots over the years, losing 13 of its last 14 postseason elimination games, but Steven Kwan said there is no panic in the clubhouse as the team prepares for Game 3 of the ALDS against the Chicago White Sox.
Cleveland has already shown this October that it can shake off a bad start, rallying from a 2-0 deficit in the 2024 ALDS to extend its run. The challenge now is even more immediate after dropping the first two games of this series, but Kwans message was clear: the Guardians are not treating the moment like a lost cause. [Read more 🡒]
Vogt's Gavin Williams Decision Just Put More Pressure On Cleveland
Stephen Vogts choice to lift Gavin Williams in the sixth inning of Game 2 against the White Sox was made with caution in mind, as the Guardians manager said he wanted to avoid overextending the right-hander after 91 pitches. Williams had been working through a tough spot when he was removed following a single, and Cleveland was counting on the bullpen to keep the game manageable.
Instead, the relief group gave up more runs, and the loss left Cleveland in a deeper hole in the series. Now down 0-2 with the next games in Chicago, the Guardians face a tougher road than they wanted, and the decision to protect Williams only adds to the scrutiny as the pressure builds. [Read more 🡒]