Phillies Linked to Offseason Trade for Wildly Overrated Player

The Philadelphia Phillies absolutely need to address their outfield this offseason, as they simply cannot head into 2026 with Bryce Harper in right field.

The Phillies were expected to add an outfielder at the MLB trade deadline, but surprisingly, they didn't acquire one, instead opting to land Luis Arraez in a deal with the San Francisco Giants.

At least he's a bat.

But make no mistake: Philadelphia must shore up this major area of weakness over the winter, and it would be stunning if it didn't swing a big move to do so.

On that note, Mike Axisa of CBS Sports has named the Phillies a potential trade destination for Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan.

Let me just immediately say that I do not like that for the Guardians at all.

Kwan has long been one of the most overrated players in baseball. Yes, he's a terrific defender, but his offensive impact has always been overstated.

People just remember his stint in the early stages of 2024 when he flirted with .400 for a while and ended up finishing with a .292 batting average.

But lifetime, Kwan is a .278/.353/.380 hitter. That's solid, but nothing spectacular, and tis year, the 28-year-old owns a .680 OPS.

So many are enamored with the fact that Kwan doesn't strike out much, but it's not like he's making legitimate contact, either.

Kwan has just one year of club control remaining after this season, so perhaps the Guardians wouldn't require a substantial haul in return for him. But the Phillies should still stay away from the former fourth-round pick.

I get the allure of his defense. Kwan won a Gold Glove in each of his first four big-league campaigns, and he is well on his way to a fifth in 2026. He is a tremendous fielder.

But Philadelphia needs bats; not gloves.

Kwan and his miserable 1.5 percent lifetime barrel rate (he is at 0.3 percent this season) does not qualify. And yes, I understand Arraez provides virtually no power, as well, but he is at least a three-time batting champion who is a virtual lock to hit .300 every year.

Arraez, Kwan is not.

The Phillies should unquestionably look elsewhere when it comes to finding outfield assistance.