Steven Kwan was named an All-Star for the second consecutive season this past week, and he has now firmly established himself as a cornerstone piece for this franchise and an indispensable part of the team’s future.
Unfortunately, not everyone sees things that way, including Cleveland’s front office, as many fans and media members are convinced that Kwan’s future in Cleveland could be short-lived.
Emmett Golden of ESPN Cleveland said on air Thursday that it’s only a matter of time before Kwan gets traded, calling it a “when and not if” situation as the trade deadline looms.
.@egoldie80 thinks it’s a “when not and not if” the Guardians will trade Steven Kwan.
Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/UAXAb6weqv
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 10, 2025
There have been rumors of Kwan being on the market as the Guardians’ offense has crashed into a wall over the past month and sent the team plummeting down the standings in the American League, but he is still only 27 and under team control through 2027.
Trading one of the only two impactful bats in this lineup is not the way to improve one of the league’s worst offenses, but if the Guardians believe the season is a lost cause and that Kwan’s value is at its peak, it could be an unfortunate reality.
Guardians fans are no stranger to the team dealing away star players, as it has become an all too familiar feeling over the past few decades.
It’s what happens when ownership refuses to operate under certain parameters, and the Guardians have never been a team that intends on spending and competing with the higher-payroll teams, despite the Dolan family being among the richest ownership groups in the sport.
It’s a shame, and trading Kwan would hurt the fans who have supported the franchise so fervently for so long.
Hopefully, this is all just noise and the front office can find ways to improve this offense without trading its second-best hitter.
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