The Cleveland Guardians find themselves in an awkward position as the trade deadline approaches. They’re sitting outside the American League playoff picture at 53-54, but they’ve got assets that could bring back serious young talent.
Steven Kwan keeps popping up in trade discussions, and it’s easy to see why. The two-time All-Star’s hitting .286 with 9 home runs and a .761 OPS this season. His bat-to-ball skills are exceptional, and he’s elite defensively in the outfield.
That combination makes him incredibly valuable on the trade market.
Sports Illustrated’s Alan Goldsher put together a mock trade that sends the Gold Glove outfielder to the New York Mets for a package of prospects.
The Proposed Deal
Mets receive: Steven Kwan
Guardians receive:
- RHP Blake Tidwell (#10 Mets prospect)
- 2B Jett Williams (#5 Mets prospect)
- RHP Calvin Ziegler (#20 Mets prospect)
Goldsher sees this as Cleveland’s way of pivoting toward the future:
“Moving on from Kwan would be a sure sign that the 53-54 Guardians are calling a wrap on the 2025 season. A toolsy, Alex Bregman-esque player, the highly-touted Williams would be the jewel of the haul, and could find himself getting some run after the September call-ups. And Tidwell has a Major League slider that, come 2027, would soften the blow of losing Kwan.”
Williams seems to be the centerpiece here. The 20-year-old has the kind of tools that make front offices excited about the future.
Tidwell brings Major League-ready stuff, particularly that slider Goldsher mentioned. At 22, he’s closer to contributing than most prospects.
The Reality for Cleveland
Trading Kwan wouldn’t be popular with fans. He’s become a genuine fan favorite during his time in Cleveland, and for good reason.
But sometimes you’ve got to make tough decisions. If the Guardians believe they’re not contending this year, moving Kwan could accelerate their timeline for the next competitive window.
The question is whether this package would be enough to pry away a player who’s still under team control and performing at an All-Star level. Three prospects is a solid return, but Kwan’s value extends beyond just this season.
All things considered, it’s the kind of move that could define Cleveland’s direction for the next few years.
