After losing ten games in a row, the Cleveland Guardians have found themselves closer to the bottom of the American League than they are to a Wild Card spot, so it’s fair to wonder if this front office is preparing to sell at the trade deadline.
The offense continues to be one of the worst in the league, and with a handful of intriguing position player prospects coming down the pipeline, the Steven Kwan trade rumors are getting louder and louder, as one American League East contender was recently named as a potential fit for the Guardians’ All-Star.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic recently wrote about 25 of the most pressing questions heading into the deadline and listed the Toronto Blue Jays as an ideal fit for Kwan.
“The Guardians will listen to inquiries on Steven Kwan and he fits the Blue Jays’ need for an on-base traffic creator who also would be a Gold Glove defender in left field. I’m just not sure where the fit is from the Guardians’ perspective. They’re looking for middle-of-the-order power, and the Jays just don’t have that in their farm system or on the major-league roster (in terms of players they would consider dealing),” Bowden wrote.
Toronto has been on fire of late and has taken over first place in the AL East, but with injuries to Daulton Varsho and Anthony Santander, the outfield has been a bit of a mess at times.
Kwan’s presence as a consistent leadoff hitter and defensive stalwart would add an element to the team that it doesn’t currently have, though it is interesting that Bowden noted that Toronto might not have the type of prospects Cleveland should be targeting in return.
It’s tough to sell a fanbase on trading a two-time All-Star outfielder with team control through 2027 when the offense has been so abysmal.
Kwan and Jose Ramirez are the only members of this offense pulling their weight, so if Kwan is dealt, the Guardians need to get some major thump in return.
Moving Kwan would hurt, but with the way the season is going, nothing is off the table.
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