Tension Rises in Cleveland as the Guardians’ Potential Game-Changing Offer for Steven Kwan Surfaces.NL
The Cleveland Guardians have a decision to make – and it’s not one they can afford to put off for too long. Steven Kwan, one of the most consistent and dynamic players on their roster, remains without a contract extension, and while he’s still under team control through the 2027 season, the clock is quietly ticking.
On paper, there’s no immediate urgency. The Guardians technically hold the leverage.
But baseball decisions aren’t made in a vacuum, and this situation is starting to feel more delicate than it may appear. Kwan has reportedly expressed some dissatisfaction with his current salary, and when a player of his caliber starts feeling undervalued, it opens the door for outside interest – and make no mistake, teams are watching.
Local analyst Andre Knott recently shed some light on what a potential deal might look like from the Guardians’ side. Speaking candidly, Knott floated a hypothetical offer that could serve as a baseline for negotiations.
“This is a big offseason,” Knott said. “He wants to get paid what he thinks he’s worth.
To me, Josh Naylor got five years, $90 million – that’s $18 million a year. We’ve got to be able to afford that.
That’s a great deal. If he’s getting that, you’d have to go to Kwan and go, ‘Hey, man.
How about let’s do five [years] for $70 million.’ I’m just throwing a number out there.
I don’t know if it’ll take that. That’s their issue.”
Now, whether $70 million over five years would be enough to lock in Kwan is up for debate. That figure feels light for a player who’s not only an elite defensive outfielder but also the second-most productive bat in Cleveland’s lineup behind José Ramírez. Kwan’s blend of contact hitting, speed, and defensive brilliance makes him a rare commodity in today’s game – the kind of player who doesn’t just fill a lineup spot, but sets the tone for a team.
He’s also a fan favorite – the type of player fans show up early just to watch shag fly balls in warmups. That matters in a market like Cleveland, where team identity and player connection run deep.
Of course, nobody’s saying Kwan should be in the same financial stratosphere as a Juan Soto. But when former teammate Josh Naylor signed a five-year, $90 million deal with the Mariners, it raised the bar. If Naylor’s bat earned him that payday, Kwan’s all-around game – and his consistency – certainly puts him in a comparable conversation.
The challenge for the Guardians is threading the needle between fiscal responsibility and keeping a core player happy and motivated. If Knott’s ballpark figure is close to what the front office is thinking, that might be the best-case scenario for fans hoping to see Kwan stay in Cleveland for the long haul. But if the gap between what Kwan wants and what the Guardians are willing to offer is too wide, the situation could shift quickly.
And that’s where things get tricky. Other teams have already come calling. Multiple clubs reportedly reached out last season to check on Kwan’s availability, and if Cleveland is even remotely open to listening, those calls will come again – and louder – this offseason.
The Guardians have built their identity around pitching, defense, and smart, cost-effective roster construction. Kwan fits that mold perfectly. But if the front office doesn’t step up soon, they risk losing a cornerstone – either to a trade or, eventually, to free agency.
For now, all eyes are on Cleveland’s front office. The ball is in their court.
