The Cincinnati Reds have a big offseason ahead, and they will face several important decisions as they weigh signing impending free agents like Tyler Stephenson or Brady Singer, exercising the mutual option on Eugenio Suarez, or possibly trading Elly De La Cruz.
They’ll also have to weigh signing unrestricted free agents across the league. Players like Tyler Mahle, Ian Happ, Nick Martinez, and Randy Arozarena could make a difference in free-agent deals. However, Cincinnati could make a splash in the trade market with an in-state team.
The Cleveland Guardians could consider trading outfielder Steven Kwan. The contact-hitting left-hander would fit well in the Reds' lineup, which showed off its power in 2026, ranking fourth in MLB with 213 home runs. Sal Stewart led the way with 32, and Elly De La Cruz followed him with 30, posting the first 30-home-run, 30-stolen-base season in a Reds uniform since second baseman Brandon Phillips did it in 2007.
The other thing that makes a Kwan trade make sense is his utility in the outfield. He came into the league as a corner outfielder with the Guardians, but he played over 88 games in center field for Cleveland this past season.
Dane Myers is set to be the Reds' everyday center fielder, but the ability to play matchups with the left-handed hitting Kwan makes his ability to play center field intriguing.
Kwan hit .282 this past season with three home runs and a .731 OPS. He hasn’t had a season in which he hit lower than .268, which was his average in his second MLB season in 2023. .268 would have been the third highest batting average on the team among players with at least 100 at-bats in 2026, just behind Elly De La Cruz and Blake Dunn, who had 142 at-bats before suffering an injury. In his rookie year, Kwan was stellar, hitting .298.
Kwan has one year of team control left and could likely be acquired at a price that wouldn’t hurt the Reds too much. He is a very safe option as one of the most consistent contact hitters in the league, and gives them a reliable outfield option to supplement Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz’s power in the lineup.
Kwan also played for Terry Francona in 2022 and 2023, when Francona was manager of the Guardians. The reunion aspect of the trade makes even more sense.