The Steven Kwan chatter is only going to get louder now that the General Managers Meeting is underway at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas, and that puts the Guardians in the middle of one of the offseason’s most talked-about possibilities. If Kwan really does become available, Cleveland will have plenty of teams asking questions. The bigger issue is what kind of deal the Guardians should refuse to make.
The line they cannot cross is simple: don’t turn Kwan into a single big-league player just for the sake of getting something back.
That warning was put into focus over the weekend when MLB’s Jon Morosi floated the idea of Kwan being moved for another impending free agent as clubs try to protect themselves against the possibility that the 2027 season could be a wash because of the lockout. Then on Sunday night, MLB Trade Rumors’ Mark Polishuk took a swing at possible landing spots for Kwan, and one suggestion stood out for all the wrong reasons: the Astros and third baseman Isaac Paredes.
That would be a bad use of Kwan’s value.
Paredes is a primary third baseman and is also set to become a free agent after the 2027 season, which makes him a strange match if the goal is to build something lasting. He does bring power, which is something the Guardians need, but that power is tied heavily to his pull-side damage to left field.
Houston’s Crawford boxes have helped him thrive, but Progressive Field is a different kind of challenge because of the 19-foot wall in left. Only 16 of his 25 home runs last season would have left the park there, even if he did punish the Guardians with a multi-homer game at Progressive Field in April.
Still, Paredes is really just an example of the larger problem. Trading Kwan for immediate big-league help might sound tempting, but that only makes sense if Cleveland is getting back multiple pieces that can matter beyond the short term. A deal built around one established player, especially another impending free agent, would be the wrong move.
Kwan is one of the most beloved players on the roster, and he may also carry the highest trade value of any player Cleveland has moved recently. Using that kind of asset on a short-term fix would be hustling backwards.
This offseason already has enough weirdness built into it. The Guardians do not need to add to it by sending Kwan away for a player like Paredes.
In Other News...
Guardians Take Another Pitching Flier With One Intriguing Bullpen Upside
The Guardians added another arm to their pitching mix this week, signing left-hander Antoine Kelly to a minor league contract for the 2027 season and bringing him into major league spring training as well. It is the kind of low-risk move Cleveland has long been willing to make, especially with pitchers who have bounced around the league and still offer a chance to be shaped into something useful.
Kelly has already reached the majors with the Cubs, and his path has taken him through the Brewers, Rangers, Rockies and Dodgers organizations. For Cleveland, the appeal is straightforward: more depth, more competition, and another bullpen option to evaluate without using a major league roster spot. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Deadline Moves Just Got The Recognition Cleveland Fans Wanted
The Guardians deadline shopping spree is getting the kind of after-the-fact validation Cleveland fans usually have to wait for. The Athletic ranked several of the teams moves among the top 30 deadline deals, with starting pitcher Foster Griffin, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and outfielder Jo Adell all drawing notice for the ways they helped shape the 2026 season.
Griffins postseason work stood out on the mound, Lowe brought timely hitting and steady defense, and Adell gave the lineup a needed jolt with key offensive moments in October, including a pair of triples in the playoffs. For a front office that took real swings at the deadline, the recognition serves as a reminder that these were not just headline-grabbing additions, but moves that actually mattered when the games got bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Clevelands Two Breakout Pitchers Are Suddenly In National Award Spotlight
Cade Smith and Parker Messick gave Cleveland plenty to celebrate beyond the standings this season, and now both pitchers are drawing national attention for it. Smith was honored with the Bob Feller Man of the Year Award and has also emerged as a finalist for the inaugural BBWAA Reliever of the Year award, while Messick picked up the Frank Gibbons-Steve Olin Good Guy Award after earning a reputation not just for his work on the mound, but for the way he handled the media and the day-to-day demands that come with a breakout year.
For a club that has long valued pitching depth and professionalism, the recognition fits the profile of both players. Smiths rise has turned him into one of the more notable relief arms in the league, and Messicks strong season has put him in the conversation for AL Rookie of the Year. The awards underscore how quickly both have moved from promising pieces to names with real league-wide weight, even if the bigger question now is how far each can carry that momentum from here. [Read more 🡒]