The Cleveland Guardians often trade talented players that they can’t or won’t extend, but that doesn’t mean they are completely opposed to tying up their stars for the long term.
Some of these extensions just don’t work out (see Myles Straw) or don’t pan out as they hoped (Andrés Giménez), but the team continues to apply the strategy where it sees fit.
For every Straw, there is an Emmanuel Clase out there.
They recently extended star pitcher Tanner Bibee, giving him $48 million for five years with an option for a sixth season.
As you can see, they aren’t afraid of trying.
Speaking of trying, Guardians reporter Andre Knott confirmed on Tuesday that Cleveland is looking to extend star outfielder Steven Kwan.
“They’re trying,” – @DreKnott on a Kwan extension from the Guardians.
WATCH: https://t.co/JbGfGg9bhU pic.twitter.com/HGWFMx1pSW
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) April 8, 2025
Logic indicates that Kwan is the next big extension candidate for the Guardians.
A deal might not be as easy as it was with Bibee, though, nor it will be as cheap.
Kwan is closer to free agency, and the team wouldn’t be buying out any pre-arbitration years as it happened with the hurler.
In addition to that, Kwan is the more accomplished player: he has three Gold Glove Awards and was an All-Star in 2024.
These things matter in contract negotiations.
Kwan is young, at 27, and is also good in the three facets of the game: hitting, fielding, and baserunning.
He will be a tough one to lock up because he knows he could wait three years and make life-changing money in free agency.
Obviously, signing an extension would bring in benefits for Kwan, the most notable of them being immediate financial security for life and one less worry on his mind.
Time will tell if the two parties can get something done.
It would be a huge win for the Guardians as a franchise.
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