The argument for and against acquiring Steven Kwan
Photo credit: © David Richard-Imagn Images
Nov 13, 2026, 08:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 13, 2026, 00:53 EST
It seems like once a year, the Toronto Blue Jays are linked to Cleveland Guardians’ outfielder Steven Kwan.
Last week, Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling released an article looking at five trade targets for the Blue Jays, with Kwan being one of the five. It’s not the first time his name has come up in Blue Jays’ rumours, as they were linked to the outfielder ahead of the 2025 trade deadline.
Heading into this off-season, an above-average bat in the outfielder was identified as one of the biggest needs for the team. Kwan fits that need, but is he worth it for the Blue Jays to acquire? Let’s find out!
The argument for acquiring Kwan
Kwan has the type of profile that the Blue Jays’ front office loves. He’s a contact-over-power type of hitter, a type of player often targeted by the team. Last season, he slashed .282/.382/.349 with three home runs and 21 doubles in 637 plate appearances for a 114 wRC+. Back in 2024, he slashed .292/.368/.425 with 14 home runs in 540 plate appearances for a 130 wRC+. He’s an above-average hitter.
On top of an above-average bat, Kwan is also one of the best defensive outfielders in Major League Baseball. The 29-year-old won the Gold Glove in left field in each season from 2022 until 2025, and was a finalist for the award in centre field this past season.
In the past five seasons, Kwan has 80 Defensive Runs Saved, 30 Outs Above Average, and 36 Fielding Run Value. The only outfielder who has a higher DRS in the past five seasons is former Blue Jays Daulton Varsho, who has 85. No other outfielder has more than 45 DRS over the past five seasons. Kwan also has the eighth-highest OAA and fifth-highest FRV among qualified outfielders the past five seasons.
The outfielder’s contract situation is also favourable. Next season will be Kwan’s final arbitration-eligible season, with MLB Trade Rumors projecting that he’ll earn $11.3 million. If it doesn’t work out, the Jays can cut bait with him, with Zwelling even noting the Jays can recover assets with a qualifying offer if he signs elsewhere.
Brett Bateman did enough at the end of last season to get a legitimate look as the Blue Jays’ full-time centre fielder. But if the Blue Jays have an inkling that maybe he’s just not ready to move into that role, Kwan showed that he is capable of excelling defensively at the position. Paired with a bounce-back season with his bat, trading for Kwan would give them an every day centre fielder, and they know what they’re getting.
The argument against acquiring Kwan
The Blue Jays’ biggest need this off-season is acquiring an outfielder and a second baseman, with some focus on pitching. Kwan is an outfielder, but isn’t the type of outfielder the team needs entering 2027.
For starters, acquiring Kwan requires the Blue Jays to trade prospect capital. While they have enough to get it done, there are better options out there. If the Jays decide to trade for a need, it makes more sense to use the capital for an infielder like Ketel Marte, Corey Seager, or Jeremy Peña.
Kwan is a left-handed batting outfielder, which is already a surplus of the Blue Jays. Heading into next season, Addison Barger, Bateman, and Nathan Lukes are projected to be on the team’s roster. Who knows if they add another left-handed batting outfielder like Teruaki Satō. Adding Kwan just adds another LHB to a logjam.
One area that the Blue Jays struggled in last season was against left-handed pitchers. All three of their slash line numbers, as well as their home run total and wRC+ all ranked bottom fifth in MLB. Kwan has always been a below-average bat against southpaws, slashing just .264/.336/.343 with six home runs in 844 career plate appearances.
But the biggest reason why trading for Kwan just doesn’t make sense is their lack of power. It wasn’t just southpaws that the Jays struggled to hit long-balls against, as their 152 home runs in 2026 ranked as the fewest in MLB.
Power, above all else, is what the Blue Jays need this off-season, and Kwan has hit just a measly 39 career home runs in 3,226 plate appearances.
Cynthia Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @CynthiaRDelaney.
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