The Cleveland Guardians still have to figure out what to do with Steven Kwan. To most fans, analysts, teams, and the rest of the world, the decision should be pretty obvious.
We’re talking about an elite defensive player who’s also a solid hitter, a clubhouse leader, and a fan favorite. There’s no logical argument to be made against giving him a long-term contract extension.
That being said, the fact that it hasn’t happened yet makes people think that it won’t happen at all. With that in mind, Cleveland.com’s Zach Mentz addressed that situation in his column about things that should happen but probably won’t in 2026:
“The Guardians re-sign Steven Kwan long-term. Depending on the length of the contract, Kwan could reasonably be re-signed for $17-20 million per season – comparable to the Rangers’ Brandon Nimmo or Cubs’ Ian Happ contracts – which is good value for an everyday leadoff hitter and annual Gold Glove award winner,” Mentz wrote.
The Guardians chose to hold onto their star outfielder last season. That brought back hope of getting a long-term deal at some point, but both parties have been radio silent about it.
Kwan has been quite vocal about his desire to stay in Cleveland for the long run, but he also knows that he’s being criminally underpaid. More than that, he might not feel valued — and rightfully so — by a team that has been historically cheap with their best players.
He’s still under contract through the 2027 season, so, technically, the Guardians could be in no rush to get a deal done or trade him away. Then again, we’ve seen how this type of situation can take a toll on a locker room.
Kwan is a great player, a fan favorite, and a homegrown talent. Hopefully, both parties will find some middle ground to get a deal done. For now, that just doesn’t sound likely.
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