Kansas City’s outfield is shaping up as the Royals’ biggest offseason problem, and it’s the one area where a swing-for-the-fences move makes the most sense.
There are free-agent options on the board, but the trade route could bring a bigger impact player into the mix. One name that’s back in circulation is Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan. FanSided’s MLB Insider Robert Murray recently pointed to the possibility of Kwan being dealt this offseason, and while Murray did not name the Royals as a destination, that doesn’t take Kansas City out of the conversation.
The Royals enter the winter with only one outfield job truly set. Jac Cagilanone is expected to handle right field unless the team trades Vinnie Pasquantino and shifts Cags to first.
That leaves center and left field as the holes Kansas City has to fill, and if J.J. Picollo wants to make a real statement, landing a marquee bat should be near the top of the list.
Kwan checks a lot of boxes for what the Royals need. He’s a multi-time Gold Glove winner in left field, and he also spent about half of last season in center. The numbers say he was even better there this season, which gives Kansas City a player who can cover either spot and keep the roster flexible while it sorts out the other vacancy.
The bat plays, too. Kwan is not a home run guy, but he has been one of the most reliable hitters in the game for several seasons.
Since his call-up in 2022, his .282 average ranks fifth among players with more than 2,000 plate appearances. He’s also third in triples, 14th in doubles, and one of only two outfielders to draw more walks than strikeouts, with Juan Soto being the other.
That kind of profile fits neatly at the top of the order. Kwan would be an ideal leadoff hitter ahead of Bobby Witt Jr., especially considering he has led off more games with hits and doubles than anyone over the last five seasons, while also posting the third-lowest strikeout rate in that span.
The overall value is hard to ignore, too. Kwan ranks ninth in fWAR among outfielders since 2022, and while he’s heading into his final year of arbitration, MLB Trade Rumors projects his 2027 salary at just $11.3 million. For a player with that defensive reputation and that kind of on-base profile, that’s a manageable number for Kansas City.
Of course, the complication is obvious: he plays for a division rival. That kind of deal usually comes with an extra price tag, because teams don’t love helping each other out. The source points to the Boston Red Sox deal for Adley Rutschman at the trade deadline as an example of what that premium can look like, with Boston sending three of its top five prospects plus two additional players to the Baltimore Orioles.
Even with that hurdle, the fit is too clean to ignore. Kwan’s glove, his contact skills, and his place ahead of Witt would all help reshape the Royals’ lineup. Kansas City may have to pay more to get there, but this is the kind of player they should at least be calling about this winter.
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For Kansas City, the move also reshapes the fringe of its pitching depth chart in a way that could matter again soon. Seabold and McGee have already chosen free agency, Marsh and Lange are eligible to do the same, and Black remains in the organization in a non-roster role, leaving the Royals with a thinner pool of familiar arms as they continue sorting through the pitching staff. [Read more 🡒]
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The late-season downturn, though, leaves the club with a tougher winter call than it might have expected when it acquired him. Pearson is still arbitration-eligible for one more season, which puts the Royals in the familiar spot of deciding whether to keep a pitcher with upside and risk, or move on before a non-tender deadline turns the question into a formality. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Should Be Watching This Playoff Roster Lesson Closely
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For the Royals, that lesson lands with real relevance. If they want to close the gap on the teams playing deep into October, the path may not be only about waiting for internal growth to take over. It may also mean finding the right opportunities to add starting pitchers and bullpen help, while being willing to use trades more aggressively to shape a roster that can hold up when the games matter most. [Read more 🡒]