Guardians' Steven Kwan trade demand reveals exactly why Reds walked away

The Cincinnati Reds were interested in trading for Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan. But that was before the Reds knew how much it would cost. Though it's not exactly known what Cleveland was seeking in return from Cincinnati, based on the Guardians' ask from the San Diego Padres, it's pretty easy to decipher.

According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic (subscription required), the Guardians were seeking a trade package that featured Padres' top prospect Leodalis De Vries in exchange for Kwan. Most outlets regard De Vires as a top-5 prospect in all of baseball.

While it's certainly an apple-to-oranges comparison, you can bet that any trade talks between the Reds and Guardians started with names like Chase Burns, Sal Stewart, Alfredo Duno, and Tyson Lewis. Those four players are all top-100 prospects, and players like Burns and Stewart are ready to make an impact this season.

Guardians' Steven Kwan trade demand reveals exactly why Reds walked away

Kwan is a tremendous player and would fit the Reds rather well. He's a plus-defender with above-average speed and phenomenal contact skills. He's under team control for two more seasons, and would unquestionably be the Reds' best outfielder if Cincinnati actually attempted to trade for him.

Lin, however, mentioned in his reporting that Cincinnati pivoted away from Kwan after learning of the steep price tag and instead decided to work out a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates for third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes.

With Kwan now off Cincinnati's radar, fans are beginning to wonder if Nick Krall and the Reds' front office will even attempt to increase their efforts to acquire another bat before the MLB trade deadline passes at 6 p.m. ET. Hayes' glove is fantastic, but the Reds could use at least one more meaningful bat in their lineup.

Following the trade for Zack Littell, Krall was asked about the prospects of making another trade before the deadline. “I feel good about addressing the bullpen," Krall told MLB.com. "I feel good about our defense getting better. You’d like to always add more if you can. But if this is our group, we’ve got a good group and we’re excited about it.”

That doesn't sound like an executive who plans to be active on Thursday, and certainly not in the mix for Kwan or any other big-name bat.

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