The Guardians are already showing up in trade chatter as the offseason gets rolling, and one of the names tied to them is Steven Kwan.
CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa connected Cleveland to the Rangers, who are searching for help in center field. In his rundown, Axisa pointed to Kwan and Jarren Duran as the most notable trade options at the position.
“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’s name carries real weight because of what he just did defensively and what he’s been doing for years with the glove. He was nominated for the AL Gold Glove Award in center field after making the move over from left, where he won four straight Gold Gloves from 2022 to 2025.
His bat was a different story early on. Kwan had a rough first half that nearly pushed him out of the lineup and even cost him his leadoff spot. But he settled in after the break and finished with his usual steady production: .282/.382/.349 and a 114 wRC+.
There’s also the contract angle. Kwan is heading into his final year of arbitration, which gives Cleveland a reason to at least listen if the return is right.
If the Guardians decide to move a cheaper, defense-first option instead, Blake Perkins is the other name to watch. Cleveland acquired him in the Craig Yoho transaction before the deadline, and he hasn’t appeared for the big-league club. His career line sits at .223/.307/.330 with an 81 wRC+, and he profiles as a glove-first player with very little offense.
However it shakes out, Cleveland looks like a team that could be active in the trade market, and at least one outfielder may be on the move.
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