The Guardians are already showing up in trade chatter, and one of the teams linked to them is the Texas Rangers.
CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa pointed to Cleveland outfielders as possible answers for Texas, which is searching for center field help heading into next season. In his view, “Jarren Duran (Red Sox) and Steven Kwan (Guardians) stand out as center field trade candidates, though Kwan in particular will come at a high price. A cheaper, defense-first stopgap like, say, Denzel Clarke (Athletics) or Blake Perkins (Guardians) may be the best short-term option while Carter is on the mend,” Axisa wrote.
Kwan is the bigger name in that group for a reason. He earned an AL Gold Glove nomination in center field after making a clean move over from left, where he had won four straight Gold Gloves from 2022 to 2025. His season at the plate had a rough start - so rough that he nearly got bumped from the lineup and was removed from the leadoff spot - but he settled in after the break and finished with his usual reliable production: .282/.382/.349 and a 114 wRC+.
There’s also the contract angle. Kwan is heading into his final year of arbitration, which could make Cleveland more willing to listen if the return is right.
If the Guardians decide they’d rather move a less expensive piece, Perkins is another name to watch. Cleveland acquired him in the Craig Yoho transaction before the deadline, and he never appeared for the big-league club.
Over his career, Perkins has hit .223/.307/.330 with an 81 wRC+, and his value comes almost entirely from the glove. He’s a no-bat, plus-glove option.
However it plays out, Cleveland looks likely to be involved in the market. The Guardians have roster holes like everyone else, and they also have enough outfield depth to be mentioned in deals. Expect at least one outfielder to come up in trade talks - and possibly to be moved.
In Other News...
Michael Massey Just Changed The Royals 2027 Infield Picture
Michael Masseys 2026 season gave the Royals a much clearer answer at second base than they had a year ago. He took a real step forward at the plate and paired it with the kind of defense that put him in the mix as an American League Gold Glove finalist, which matters for a club trying to sort out its infield beyond the immediate future. For a team that has spent plenty of time looking for stability around the diamond, Masseys progress has become one of the more important developments on the roster.
It also changes the way Kansas City can think about the next wave of infield talent. Young prospects such as Angeibel Gomez are turning heads in the Arizona Fall League, and the Royals have other players and roster questions to weigh as they map out 2027. Masseys emergence does not close the door on competition, but it does make the picture more crowded in a good way, with the organization now trying to fit promising pieces around a position that suddenly looks less open than it did not long ago. [Read more 🡒]
Former Royals Pitcher Is Getting A Fresh Chance With A Rival
Alec Marsh is getting another shot at a big-league path, and this one comes with a familiar twist for Royals fans. The right-hander, who once worked his way into Kansas Citys rotation mix, has signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox and will head to spring training with a chance to show he can still be part of a major league staff.
Marsh has not pitched in two years after dealing with injury and surgery, so the White Sox are taking a low-risk look at a pitcher who has already logged 33 starts in 43 career appearances. For Chicago, it is another move aimed at deepening a staff that needs more answers going into next season, while for Marsh it is simply a chance to restart a career that has been on hold for far too long. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Add A New Hitting Voice To Fix A Problem Fans Know Too Well
The Royals are bringing in another voice to help sort out a problem that has lingered around the club for too long, hiring Hunter Mense as an assistant hitting coach. Mense arrives with a resume that includes time as a hitting coach with the Giants and as an assistant hitting coach with the Blue Jays, along with a playing background in the minor leagues and coaching experience across MLB organizations.
For Kansas City, the move is another sign that the organization is looking for fresh eyes and a different approach in the batters box. The Royals have spent enough time trying to steady their offense that any addition with league-wide experience is worth noting, and Mense now becomes part of the effort to give the group a clearer direction at the plate. [Read more 🡒]