The Los Angeles Dodgers were one team that reportedly had interest in Cleveland Guardians star Steven Kwan before the trade deadline, and one MLB insider reports the reigning World Series champion could call about him again this winter.
The offseason will be full of trade speculation and rumors, and the Cleveland Guardians could be at the center of quite a bit of it.
Steven Kwan was one of the most talked-about potential trade pieces leading up to the deadline, and his name is already resurfacing in reports before the GM Meetings or Winter Meetings have a chance to start.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on Monday that the Los Angeles Dodgers could re-engage with the Guardians for a trade centered around Kwan sometime this winter.
“They nearly traded him to the Dodgers at the trade deadline and Los Angeles will come calling again. The price-tag will be high, but the Dodgers certainly have the prospect capital,” wrote the insider.
It’s not surprising to see the Dodgers appear as a potential suitor for an offseason trade centered around Kwan. They were one of the teams that were reportedly heavily pursuing the All-Star outfielder ahead of the trade deadline.
Even though the Dodgers have won back-to-back World Series the last two seasons, a solid argument can be made that they need another established outfielder. Los Angeles only had a league-average offensive output from their outfielder in 2025 with a wRC+ of 98.
Sep 5, 2025; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) prepares to bat in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn ImagesKwan had a bit of a down year for his standards, recording a .272/.330/.374 slash line and a .705 OPS during the 2025 season. He was considered relatively an average hitter during his last 100 plate appearances. That said, you can’t forget about Kwan’s elite defense.
Still, the 28-year-old is under team control for two more seasons, and Kwan would have plenty of opportunities to hit in a star-studded line like Los Angeles has.
From Cleveland’s point of view, the Dodgers have several intriguing prospects that the Guardians could be interested in, such as Josue De Paula and Jackson Ferris, who should be demanded in any trade negotiations.
While the Dodgers could very well trade Kwan this offseason, as Nightengale suggests, it wouldn’t make sense for that to happen anytime soon.
There are plenty of free-agent outfielders on the market, such as Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, or Harrison Bader, whom Los Angeles could add without giving up valuable prospect capital.
It would make more sense for the Dodgers, or really any team interested in Kwan, to engage in trade talks with the Guardians once those players come off the board.