Why a trade for Steven Kwan would add up for the Yankees

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan is not looked at as the prized possession for New York to acquire this offseason, but the reality of him donning the pinstripes in 2026 is not too far-fetched. 

Following the re-signing of outfielder Trent Grisham, the Yankees' hands are tied when it comes to money-spending moves. Outfielders Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker are two of the most important free agents that come to mind this offseason, but the Bombers may be priced out.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has expressed concerns about staying under a $300M payroll for luxury tax purposes but has not yet confirmed whether that is his plan.

"Would it be ideal if I went down [with the payroll]? Of course," Steinbrenner told the media in November. "But does that mean that's going to happen? Of course not. We want to field a team we believe could win a championship."

This is where a trade for Kwan comes into play. This is a move that would allow the Yankees to acquire a four-time Gold Glove winner and a top-of-the-lineup hitter without breaching the luxury tax threshold.

What would Steven Kwan cost?

While a trade for Kwan wouldn't hurt the Bombers' wallets, by no means would he come free. The two-time All-Star would likely run the Yankees out of one of their top prospects or outfielder Jasson Dominguez. 

Dominguez has once again found himself as the odd man out in the Yankees' outfield heading into the 2026 season, but he still has some value left attached to him. Sending "The Martian" to Cleveland would give him the chance to develop into a full-time outfielder on a contending team and give the Guardians an outfield talent with five more years of team control. 

Another option in this trade could be the Bombers' No. 4 prospect, Spencer Jones. Cleveland has been longing for a power bat, and New York is one of the best suppliers in that department. The 24-year-old is a power-hitting, MLB-ready talent who may be a main name brought up in trade discussions this offseason.

Why Steven Kwan fits in New York

Aside from the payroll benefits, the addition of Kwan to the Yankees would fill many unchecked boxes for New York.

In a lineup full of power-hitters, Kwan would bring balance to the top of the Bombers' batting order. As a contact-first offensive player, the 28-year-old would provide much-needed on-base ability ahead of the hard swingers like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. He has also proven to be a threat on the basepaths, stealing over 20 bags in two of his past three seasons. 

Along with his ability to get on base, Kwan will bring world-class defense to left field in the Bronx. The lefty sparkplug has won a Gold Glove every season he has been in the majors, and pairing him with Grisham and Judge may just turn the Yankees' outfield into one of the best defensive trios in the league. 

Regardless of what the Yankees do this offseason, it is clear that Steinbrenner would like to stay under the luxury tax threshold. It is hard to improve a team like the Yankees if the owner does not want to spend some extra money, but a move like acquiring Kwan might be just what the Bombers need to make everyone happy.