Steven Kwan is being linked to two teams after Guardians' playoff exit

The Cleveland Guardians’ World Series dream is over, and now they may have some hard decisions to make.

Guardians star outfielder Steven Kwan could be on the trade block after the team’s ALCS exit, Robert Murray of FanSided reported Tuesday. Murray notes that Kwan is headed into his final year of arbitration and that Cleveland has a history of trading players before they get paid on the open market.

Additionally, Murray reports that the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs could be two potential suitors for Kwan on the trade market. You can read his full report on the situation here.

The lefy-hitting Kwan, 29, is one of Cleveland’s best homegrown success stories. He has made two All-Star teams and won four Gold Glove Awards with the Guardians since debuting in 2022 and hit a stellar .282 with three home runs, 32 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases this season as one of baseball’s best contact hitters.

But Kwan’s contract situation means that he can become a free agent after the 2027 MLB season. While Kwan did only bat .244 during Cleveland’s ALCS run this year, he is still at a relatively high point of his value right now.

The 91-win Padres lost in the NLDS this year and have since been linked to some other interesting outfielders too. Meanwhile, the 89-win Cubs fell in the NL Wild Card Series this season and could have a few notable holes to fill in their own outfield.