There have been plenty of things going right for the Cleveland Guardians during the first half of the season. One of the biggest disappointments so far has been outfielder Steven Kwan.
The two-time All-Star has been one of the Guardians’ most consistent contributors over the last few seasons. Now, Kwan is looking completely lost at the plate during the first half of the 2026 season.
Recently, Zack Meisel broke down what he thinks Kwan’s future looks like in Cleveland.
“They’re in a weird spot with [Steven Kwan] because he’s got one more year of team control and he’s probably gonna make $9-10 million in arbitration. One, do they want to pay that? Two, do they have enough confident outfielders that they can afford to dump him? Three, how much value does he have? We now know that this version of him exists. You take it year by year, at this point,” Meisel said.
"I think he's been up there guessing. I think the conversations about the contract started to get to him… He's still great defensively. If I can get him peace of mind, could that maybe get him back in that leadoff spot?"
⚾@KenCarman on the idea of still offering Steven Kwan… pic.twitter.com/DPUIyohsQ0
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) July 17, 2026
The downfall of Kwan has certainly been odd because he showed no real signs of significant regression until this season. He has been arguably unplayable due to the disappearance of his bat. Through 89 games, Kwan is slashing .225/.332/.282 with one home run, 16 RBIs, and six stolen bases. The only thing that has been good is his defense and his ability to draw walks.
The Guardians are in a window where they can truly compete for a championship right now. They cannot afford to play someone who is basically an automatic out at the plate. The Guardians are likely stuck with Kwan at the moment.
His trade value is at an all-time low due to his horrendous first half. If they traded him, the Guardians aren’t likely to get anything back to help them make a significant playoff push. Kwan isn’t due to be a free agent until 2028, so the team control does help his trade value. However, the Guardians don’t want to take a loss on a player who has been so good for this many years.
Outside of Chase DeLauter, the future doesn’t exactly look too bright in the Guardians outfield. Some of these younger players could develop into capable options down the road. The team doesn’t have anyone to take over for Kwan on a full-time basis right now.
The Guardians are likely stuck hoping that Kwan does bounce back in the second half. He has a good track record, so maybe he only needs to make a few mechanical adjustments.
If this pace continues, the Guardians could be looking to replace Kwan in the offseason.
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