With the MLB trade deadline approaching on July 31, speculation is swirling around the Los Angeles Dodgers—and ESPN’s David Schoenfield has tossed a bold idea into the mix: Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan. On the surface, the fit makes sense. Kwan is a high-contact, Gold Glove left fielder who could stabilize LA’s lineup both offensively and defensively. But the reality of such a deal may be far more complicated.
Why Steven Kwan Makes Sense for L.A.
The Dodgers, at 60-43 and leading the NL West, remain World Series contenders, but they have key issues to address—especially in the outfield. Michael Conforto, their offseason acquisition, has been a disappointment. Despite 300 plate appearances, he’s hitting below .200 and remains a defensive liability in left field.
“Michael Conforto just hasn’t worked out,” Schoenfield wrote. “They could also use a leadoff hitter. They just moved Mookie Betts there in front of Shohei Ohtani, looking to get Betts going, but Betts just hasn’t been an offensive force in 2025 and shouldn’t be hitting at the top of a lineup right now. Kwan would fix both issues.”
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Indeed, Kwan’s profile—a .288/.352/.398 slash line with 11 stolen bases and elite defense—makes him the ideal remedy. A career .289 hitter, Kwan is the kind of high-OBP, low-strikeout presence the Dodgers have lacked atop the lineup. Defensively, he’s a three-time Gold Glove winner.
The Guardians’ Dilemma: Win Now or Maximize Value?
But would Cleveland actually move Kwan? That’s the question hovering over any potential deal. ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel recently ranked him No. 2 on their updated list of top trade candidates—but with just a 20% likelihood of being dealt. The Guardians control Kwan through 2027, and he’s earning just $4.1 million this season, with arbitration raises looming.
“The player asked about the most on the Guardians’ roster is Steven Kwan, but given that he’s 2 1/2 years away from free agency, it’s unlikely he’ll be traded, according to sources,” ESPN’s Buster Olney added this week. “His slash line this year: .288/.352/.398.”
Cleveland, currently contending in the AL Central and fresh off a deep postseason run in 2024, has no pressing need to deal Kwan. If anything, an offseason extension seems more logical than a deadline move.
What the Dodgers Could Offer
Still, Schoenfield lays out a potential framework. The Dodgers, armed with a loaded farm system, could offer a tempting package. Names floated include catcher Dalton Rushing, outfielders Zyhir Hope and Eduardo Quintero, while top prospect Josue De Paula is likely off-limits.
“The Guardians also need power,” Schoenfield noted. “The Dodgers could offer a nice package of prospects… but it all hinges on Cleveland’s willingness to shake up its core.”
Starting pitcher Dustin May has also been a name floated as available.
The Dodgers are known for making aggressive, sometimes surprising, moves at the deadline—Max Scherzer and Trea Turner in 2021, for example. So while acquiring Kwan would be a deviation from typical rental-player deals, it would align with their desire for long-term solutions.
A Trade Unlikely, But Intriguing
In truth, this proposed deal sits at the intersection of ambition and pragmatism. Kwan, 27, is a building block for Cleveland, and dealing him now would be a surprise. But as MLB’s market evolves—and as the Dodgers continue to hunt for marginal and major gains alike—it’s a situation worth monitoring.
As Schoenfield succinctly put it: “We know the Dodgers will do something, right? They almost always do—and it’s usually something significant.”
Whether Steven Kwan becomes part of that next significant move remains to be seen. But even his hypothetical fit says a lot about what the Dodgers are trying to fix, and how far they might go to do it.