The Guardians’ season ended in the ALCS, and now the attention shifts fast to one of the franchise’s biggest offseason questions: Steven Kwan.
Cleveland fell in six games, bowing out of the postseason after what the source described as a valiant effort from a shaky offense. With the offseason now underway, Kwan’s future is suddenly front and center.
MLB insider Robert Murray of Fansided.com reported that the trade chatter around Kwan is picking up again, and that doesn’t exactly point toward a long stay in Cleveland beyond the 2026 MLB season.
“The trade rumors have surrounded star outfielder Steven Kwan for years,” Murray writes. “And with the Cleveland Guardians eliminated from the postseason on Monday night, those rumors are bound to heat up once again.”
Kwan has been a recurring name in trade discussion over the last two seasons, and he reportedly came close to being moved in 2025 without actually getting dealt by the deadline. At 29, he is now entering the final year of arbitration before reaching free agency, which gives Cleveland a clear decision point.
For a team that generally does not spend heavily, Murray’s reporting makes the case for dealing Kwan now. The Guardians could try to maximize his value while he still brings the kind of package teams want: strong defense in the outfield and reliable production at the plate.
Murray also said the rumors have “some rivals believing a trade this winter is possible.” One person he spoke with put it bluntly: “Always fair [to wonder that] in Cleveland.”
There should be interest if Kwan is available. Murray named the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs as possible destinations, two teams that could make sense as landing spots for the Gold Glove outfielder.
Kwan has been a major piece of the Guardians over the last few years, but Murray’s report makes the situation sound increasingly fragile. The expectation, at least from that reporting, is that a move this winter would not come as a surprise.
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Several hitters finished the matchup with low averages, a reminder that the margin for error was thin once the pitching matchups tightened. If Cleveland wants to turn that October trip into something more lasting, the front office is staring at a clear to-do list that goes beyond one area, with the club expected to look for more help in the lineup, the bullpen and the rotation. [Read more 🡒]