Jun 22, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the Athletics during the fifth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images Dennis Lee
The Cleveland Guardians apparently have gone from willing to listen on left fielder Steven Kwan to actively trying to deal him.
MLB.com's Mark Feinsand said as much about both Kwan and former AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber in a post on X Wednesday afternoon:
The Guardians are “trying to move” both Steven Kwan and Shane Bieber, per source. Bieber made his fourth rehab start on Tuesday, striking out seven with no walks in four innings. He’s returning from April 2024 Tommy John surgery and has a $16M player option ($4M buyout) for 2026.
I wrote earlier this month that the Phillies should check in with the slumping Guardians on Kwan, thinking at that time it was pretty unlikely that Cleveland would part with the two-time All-Star outfielder. Since then, though, Jon Heyman of The New York Post has been among those to report that the Phillies are indeed interested in Kwan, and Guardians' closer Emmanuel Clase has joined starter Luis Ortiz on paid leave as part of a gambling investigation. As Anthony SanFilippo wrote yesterday at On Pattison, the circumstances surrounding Kwan have changed drastically during the month of July.
Still, it's surprising to hear it framed this way. It's one thing to be seriously considering offers for Kwan. But considering Kwan can't become a free agent until after the 2027 season, it seems noteworthy that the Guardians appear to be leaning towards trading Kwan. It could be that they are taking advantage of what's a really weak trade market, both for outfielders and in general.
While Kwan wouldn't solve the need the Phillies have for another middle-of-the-order bat — ideally a right-handed one — he's such an excellent player that you have to consider striking if he is indeed available. Kwan is already a two-time Gold Glove Award winner in left field, and has 13 defensive runs saved this year. He also is striking out just 8.5% of the time this season, meaning he could hit at the top of the order with Trea Turner and make Rob Thomson's lineup deeper.
Whether the Phillies have the ammunition or appetite to land Kwan and a star reliever — with the latter seemingly their No. 1 focus — remains to be seen. But the chance to acquire the 27-year-old Kwan is the type of thing that makes you readjust your plans.
