Projecting a Yankees-Steven Kwan trade package after latest Guardians rumors, strange season

Without the game-changing power of Aaron Judge or the five-tool skills of Pete Crow-Armstrong, it would be understandable for some to forget just how good Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians really is. This can be especially true when ranking the best players in baseball. But his 18.7 fWAR is the ninth-highest total out of all outfielders since his debut in 2022. 

As the New York Yankees look to bounce back from an early postseason exit, fans and former players alike are calling on the team to return to its former glory days. Not only does that include having a firm grasp of the fundamentals necessary to win games, but it also means reloading and retooling the roster when faced with failure. With an enormous offseason ahead of them, the Yankees may view Kwan as a potential trade target to help them get back to those glory days. 

Now that baseball insiders like FanSided's Robert Murray view Kwan as a player who could find himself on the trading block over the next few months, it could be the exact opening that the Yankees have been looking for. Kwan is a high-contact, high-OBP, low-strikeout hitter who also happens to play lockdown defense in the outfielder. While he has spent the majority of his career in left field, the Guardians slotted him in center throughout the 2026 season, where boasted +6 Outs Above Average in over 600 innings.  

Kwan’s ability to put the ball in play and get on base, paired with his versatility on defense, would make him a near-perfect fit in the Yankees’ outfield. While you might think that Kwan would be too expensive for the Yankees to acquire, he does become a free agent after the 2027 season. That will slightly reduce the Guardians' ability to ask for a maximum haul in return for Kwan. But that doesn’t mean that he’ll come cheaply, either. 

As a package to acquire a top-10 outfielder in baseball, the Yankees could potentially ship one season of Luis García Jr., pitcher Luis Serna, and fading outfield "prospect" Jasson Domínguez to seal the deal. 

The Yankees will have to part ways with real talent to acquire Steven Kwan      

As noted by Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report, the Guardians have a particular hole at the first base position heading into next season. While Nathaniel Lowe filled in admirably for the Guardians in the postseason, they need a more viable short-term solution if they choose to let prized-prospect Ralphy Velazquez develop for another season. This is where García Jr. could really benefit them. While he just converted over to first base last season, he appeared to be handling the position well enough during his time in the Bronx. 

But it’s the bat of García Jr. that may hold the most value for the Guardians. With his 30 home runs and 92 RBI in 2026, García Jr. would immediately become one of the best power hitters in Cleveland. His OPS+ of 125 this season would also rank second on the Guardians’ roster. His offensive production could be exactly what they have been looking for to get them over the hump in October. 

Luis Serna has been in the Yankees’ farm system since signing with the organization as a 16-year-old in 2021. Although he initially showed great promise through his first two seasons in the minor leagues, injuries have slowed down his development. He pitched well in 2026 for High-A Hudson Valley, owning a 1.188 WHIP in 118.2 innings. This could make him an interesting option for the Guardians as Serna looks to grow as a pitcher.  

The elephant in the room for this trade is obviously Domínguez. Does the Martian still possess MLB-level talent? That is the biggest question surrounding the once highly-touted prospect. He’ll be just 24 years old at the start of the 2027 season, so it is way too early to write him off completely. But he has not shown a whole lot to be excited about at the plate or in the field. He could be a change-of-scenery candidate that may flourish in Cleveland.  

While Kwan has just a single year of control left on his contract, that doesn’t mean that the Guardians have to sell low on him. Even after battling through such a strange season, Kwan remained a top-tier player. With a .614 OPS in 298 first half at-bats in 2026, Kwan was downright terrible at the plate. But like a majority of the best players in the league, the outfielder locked in and found his swing just in time for his team to make their run at the postseason.

Following the All-Star break, Kwan sported an impressive .353/.443/.432 slash line in 62 games. His 85 hits in the stretch was tied for the most in the league with Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves. While it didn’t completely erase the memory of his struggles in the first half, his hot streak was the perfect way to remind fans of his talent. 

The Yankees have made the postseason in six out of seven seasons this decade. For most teams, that would be considered a very successful run. For the Yankees, the lack of a World Series title means that all of that winning was essentially for nothing. While you could point fingers and assess blame to a number of players, coaches, and front office personnel, it has been the team’s lack of fundamental defense that has been at the heart of the Yankees’ most heartbreaking failures. The addition of Kwan could help address that issue. 

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