Steven Kwan has been one of the most dependable players on the Cleveland Guardians for the past five seasons, but his future with the club is suddenly one of the biggest storylines of the offseason. Kwan is entering his final year of club control, and he is projected to earn more than $11 million through arbitration in 2027. That puts the Guardians in a familiar spot, needing to decide whether to commit to a homegrown star or trade him before he reaches free agency. Several national outlets have already listed Kwan as a potential trade candidate this winter. MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins laid out five questions facing Cleveland this offseason, and one of them centered on the Gold Glove finalist.
“What does the future hold for Kwan?” Stebbins wrote. “Kwan is entering his final season of club control, which is typically the point when teams face a long-term decision. The Guardians could hold on to him and even try to work out a contract extension. He’s a valued member of the lineup, plus he fared well in adding center field to his tool kit this season. They also could explore a trade to recoup some value before his looming free agency next offseason.”
Kwan’s 2026 season showed both his value and why the decision is so complicated. Through the end of June, he hit just .212 with a .575 OPS over 78 games, one of the roughest stretches of his career. Then he flipped the switch. Over his final 73 games, Kwan hit .352 with an .886 OPS, and he led the majors with a .353 average after the All-Star break. He also drew a career-high 85 walks and was named a Gold Glove finalist in center field, a new position for a player who had already won multiple Gold Gloves in left.
His impact goes beyond the numbers, too. Kwan is one of the leaders of the Cleveland clubhouse, preaching a one game at a time mindset that helped the Guardians come back from an 0-2 hole against the White Sox in the division series. He also made one of the biggest defensive plays of the ALCS, throwing out a runner at the plate in Game 5.
Still, the trade speculation is real.
That offense is the bigger picture. Cleveland scored just eleven runs across the final five games of the ALCS, and the front office will be searching for ways to add power. Trading Kwan could bring back the kind of impact bat the Guardians have struggled to land in free agency, but it would also create a hole at the top of the lineup and in the outfield. Petey Halpin’s emergence during the postseason could help soften that blow.
Kwan turned 29 in September and has spent his entire career in Cleveland since being drafted in the fifth round out of Oregon State in 2018. Whether he stays or goes could shape the direction of the franchise heading into 2027, and it will be one of the most closely watched decisions of the Guardians’ winter.
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