The Blue Jays enter the offseason with a clear need to get better in the outfield, and one suggested target stands out because of what he would bring on both sides of the ball: Cleveland’s Steven Kwan.
Toronto’s season never really settled into the kind of run the club imagined when it opened 2026 with hopes of getting back to the World Series and finishing the job. Injuries, an aging pitching staff, and missed time from key arms made the year tough for manager John Schneider, and the front office eventually dealt Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline. By the end of it, the Blue Jays were well behind the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in the American League.
Now general manager Ross Atkins is the one tasked with pushing the roster forward for 2027, and Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller offered a possible fix. In his list of one trade for every MLB team this offseason, Miller connected Kwan to Toronto as a trade target.
It’s not a wild idea. Cleveland has a track record of moving players before they become much more expensive, and Miller noted that Kwan is arbitration-eligible in 2027 at around $11.3 million. For a team like Toronto, that matters.
Kwan would not be coming in as a slugger, and the power numbers back that up. He hit .282/.382/.349 with three home runs and 32 RBIs. But his value shows up elsewhere: 21 doubles, three triples, 152 hits, plus the kind of speed that helps set the table at the top of the lineup.
Then there’s the glove. Kwan is a four-time Gold Glove winner in the outfield, and that kind of defense is exactly the sort of upgrade Toronto could use. Miller called him a trade target, and if the Blue Jays can piece together a package that gets Cleveland’s attention, it would be a major addition.
Kwan might not actually be available, but the fit is obvious enough to make the idea worth serious thought. If Toronto is going to get back into the postseason mix in 2027, aggressive moves like this may be the way to do it.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Linked To Power Bat They May Struggle To Land
The Blue Jays have another potential international power target on the board, with the winter market now opening for a name that has made plenty of noise in Japan. A 27-year-old outfielder from the Hanshin Tigers has been posted for MLB free agency, giving clubs a 45-day window to negotiate, and Toronto is expected to be among the teams keeping close tabs on the situation.
This is the kind of profile that naturally draws attention in Toronto, especially after the player's recent breakout season in NPB. He just won the Triple Crown, and with a planned trip to North America in November to meet with teams, the next few weeks should determine whether the Blue Jays can seriously enter the mix or whether this becomes one of those pursuits that proves tougher to complete than to admire from afar. [Read more 🡒]
George Springer Just Made Toronto's Next Decision Much Tougher
George Springers 2026 season gave Toronto another reminder of how complicated his place on the roster has become. The numbers still point to a productive player overall, with his offense and defense both factoring into a season that looked a lot healthier than a simple decline narrative would suggest. He continued to matter in different spots of the lineup, and the broader split data shows there was still enough impact there to keep him part of the conversation when the Blue Jays start mapping out next year.
What makes the decision harder is that Springer's value is no longer just about whether he can still help in the everyday sense, but about how the club weighs that against the shape of its future. His season left Toronto with plenty to consider about role, contract and timing, especially after another year of tracking him against the standards he has already set in Canada. The question now is not whether he has been important to the Blue Jays, but how much longer that importance should keep him at the center of their plans. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Linked To Yankees Bat Who Could Fix Their Biggest Need
Luis Garca Jr. has emerged as one of the more interesting names in the early trade chatter surrounding the Yankees, with his fit on the roster drawing attention as teams look for ways to improve their flexibility. For Toronto, the appeal is obvious enough: the Blue Jays have been mentioned as a possible landing spot for a bat like Garca, the kind of addition that could help address a lineup need without requiring a complete overhaul.
Nothing official is in motion, and this remains speculative, but the idea has enough logic to keep circulating. A move involving Garca would be about more than simply changing uniforms, since it could give New York some room to maneuver while giving Toronto a chance to add a power threat to its everyday mix, which is exactly the sort of midwinter conversation that tends to follow a team looking for a jolt. [Read more 🡒]