The Cleveland Guardians find themselves in familiar territory this season, teetering on the edge of relevance at 50-50 and sitting just 2.5 games behind the final AL Wild Card spot.
It’s the kind of position that forces front offices to make difficult decisions about the immediate future versus long-term planning.
For a franchise that has built its identity around development and smart roster construction, the current situation presents a particularly challenging crossroads.
Former Cleveland pitcher Jensen Lewis recently revealed that the Guardians have begun entertaining offers for All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan, though he estimates the likelihood of an actual deal at just 25 percent.
“To take away an area of strength with Steven Kwan would basically be waving that proverbial white flags, sooner than later. They’re going to listen, because that’s what you do at a trade deadline. We know that Jose Ramirez would be in that untouchable category, but this is what all 30 GMs do at this time of year. You will listen to everyone, you want to understand what the market may bear,” Lewis said during a segment of the Big Play podcast.
Jensen Lewis says the Guardians are officially listening to trades for Steven Kwan 🚨
"They're going to listen… I would say it's a 1/4 chance that a trade happens."
Presented by @nefdirect! Get a discount on any item with this form: https://t.co/hE2TsKlAkm pic.twitter.com/6vHw707GXd
— BIGPLAY Cleveland Show (@BIGPLAYCLEshow) July 22, 2025
The shift in approach regarding Kwan represents a notable change for Cleveland’s front office.
While they aren’t actively shopping the outfielder, the willingness to field calls suggests the organization is evaluating all options as the trade deadline approaches.
Kwan remains one of the most reliable players in the Guardians’ lineup, maintaining a .288/.352/.398 slash line with six home runs, 32 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, and 105 hits across 93 games.
His exceptional 8.3 percent strikeout rate, combined with three Gold Glove awards and two All-Star selections, makes him a rare commodity in today’s game.
ESPN recently identified Kwan among the top 50 trade candidates, citing a 20 to 25 percent chance he gets moved.
However, internal resistance to trading him remains strong unless another team offers both controllable major league talent and elite prospects in return.
NEXT: Analyst Reveals Honest Thoughts About Steven Kwan Trade Rumors
