MLB Trade Rumors: 3-Way Deal Sends Steven Kwan to Houston Astros

Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians outfielder, breaks bat on a swing

Steven Kwan was one of the most commonly heard names on the rumor mill this season that did not get traded. But with only two years of team control remaining, that doesn't mean that the tight-fisted Cleveland Guardians will stop trying to deal him. This offseason will bring a flurry of calls to the Cleveland front office from teams looking to pry the All-Star, Gold Glove outfielder away.

The team needs to decide on his future—try to extend him, or deal him now while his value is at its highest. “The paradox here is that the closer he gets to that free agency, the lower the return in a trade would be," said Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast host Joe Noga. "That’s why this offseason or this past trade deadline were the ideal times to trade Steven Kwan, because your asking price can be astronomically high.”

With that, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report has proposed a three-team trade that would send Kwan to a team in dire need of a boost in the outfield:

Houston Astros Receive:

LF Steven Kwan (from CLE)

Cleveland Guardians Receive:

OF Dylan Beavers (from BAL)
OF Jacob Melton (from HOU)
RHP Spencer Arrighetti (from HOU)

Baltimore Orioles Receive:

RHP Bryan Abreu (from HOU)

The Astros get a primo outfielder to help set the table for a lineup that includes Yordan Alvarez (if healthy), Jeremy Pena, Isaac Paredes and Jose Altuve.

But they'd have to give up an elite reliever in Abreu, who could take over at closer for the Orioles, who will once again be without Felix Bautista next season.

As for Cleveland, they avoid the decision of having to pay Kwan a huge amount of money in a year or two, while picking up some nice young pieces. Arrighetti was a top-3 prospect in the Astros' system before making his major league debut and has shown immense promise, though he missed most of the 2025 season. Melton was the Astros' No. 2 prospect this year, while Beavers was the Orioles' No. 2. The idea in this hypothetical deal is that the Cleveland outfield would be in good hands with those two, even without Kwan.