Cleveland Guardians star Steven Kwan endured a rough first half, with diminished offensive performance and rumors of a trade or even a shocking and unlikely trip to the minor leagues swirling over him. He lost his leadoff spot, and fans didn’t want him on the team, or at least most of them.
However, he worked hard and eventually adjusted and started hitting pitches in all parts of the zone, pulling those inside the zone and driving those in the outer part to the other way. It took blood, sweat, and tears, but he finished the year with a brilliant 114 wRC+, his best mark since 2024, and also had his moments in the postseason despite a 67 wRC+.
All things considered, it was a good year in Cleveland, and Kwan was a big part of it. He eventually returned to the top spot of the lineup and became the catalyst of a surging offense.
The outfielder praised Cleveland’s young movement and said he’s excited for the future, which is significant since he is currently considered a trade candidate.
“We had a lot of different personnel than years before,” Kwan said, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. “We had a lot of young guys stepping up into those roles. It was really fun to be a part of. Winning baseball games can look different at times, and we won them in a lot of different fashions. I’m excited for the future.”
The Guardians haven’t been able to extend Kwan to this point, and he’ll enter his contract year in 2027. They have multiple options: they could trade him during the offseason to get something in return, they could extend him to keep him long-term, or they could enjoy his contributions in 2027 before seeing him leave without receiving anything in return.
Every option has its pros and cons, but for now, Kwan is a valuable member of the Guardians and is acting like one. He knows the Guardians have a bright future, and he is excited about it. Chase DeLauter, Travis Bazzana, Angel Martinez, Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, Cade Smith, Ralphy Velazquez, and Patrick Bailey have a chance to be part of something special, and Kwan is very much aware of that.
Will he be part of it, too? Only time will tell.
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