MLB Trade Rumors: Guardians Reveal Asking Price For Steven Kwan

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan reacts during 2025 game.

The Cleveland Guardians are listening to trade offers for All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan, but don’t expect a deal unless a team pays a steep premium. 

According to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, Cleveland would only move the 27-year-old if they’re “overwhelmed” and believe they’ve won the trade outright. That means a package featuring MLB-ready players or elite near-ready prospects under long-term control. Kwan, a three-time Gold Glover hitting .285 this season, is under team control through 2027, giving Cleveland all the leverage.

Lingering Injury Isn’t Dimming Kwan’s Trade Value

Kwan has missed a few games with a wrist issue that’s lingered since a May headfirst slide, but he recently received a cortisone shot and is trending toward a full return. He still started 92 of the team’s first 95 games and earned a second All-Star nod this season. The Guardians are cautiously optimistic he won’t require a stint on the injured list, and manager Stephen Vogt has described him as “day to day.”

A Long Shot to Move, But a Massive Return If So

ESPN’s Jeff Passan puts Kwan’s trade chances at just 20 percent, and Cleveland’s recent surge, winning eight of their last ten, could keep them out of full-sell mode. Still, contenders like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies have checked in, knowing that Kwan’s peak value and contract control make him a rare deadline prize. 

If Cleveland believes it can’t contend before Kwan hits free agency, they may eventually revisit moving him. But unless a team offers a haul too good to pass up, Kwan is staying in Cleveland through the deadline.

Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images