Steven Kwan price tag turns a potential Reds' fit into a painful long shot

Steven Kwan would be a perfect fit for the Cincinnati Reds with his slick fielding and bat-to-ball skills. Unfortunately, the Reds may find themselves shut out of trade talks for the Cleveland Guardians outfielder because of what they expect in return. If the Guardians are looking to add power and/or a true center fielder, this deal may be dead in the water.

To start with, the Guardians, who edged out the Detroit Tigers for the division crown in 2025, will likely want to extend their run of success. To do so, Cleveland may be looking for either big leaguers or MLB-ready prospects in the deal. Perhaps that’s why the team didn’t jump at the San Diego Padres’ offer of Leo De Vries, who won’t be a factor until late 2026 at the earliest, during trade deadline talks. With this in mind, the Reds have very little to offer for Kwan.

While Steven Kwan fits the Reds’ needs perfectly, Cincinnati has little to offer the Guardians in return

To fit the Guardians’ asking price, the Reds are stuck between a rock and a hard place. TJ Friedl would fit the centerfield needs of Cleveland, but he’s basically Kwan 2.0. Not to mention, he is among the Reds’ most consistent offensive players (when healthy). He’s under contract through 2028, which would make him a high price to pay for two years of Kwan.

On the prospect side, we’re probably talking about Sal Stewart, Cam Collier, or Héctor Rodríguez as the centerpiece of the deal. Each of those players has the power that Cleveland may be looking for. Stewart, now that he has broken into the majors, doesn’t seem like a likely trade option, and Rodríguez may become the answer to the Reds’ revolving door of corner outfielders.

Collier, then, is the outlier. Where he fits now that Gold Glover Ke’Bryan Hayes is with the team is a bit up in the air. With Spencer Steer making a name for himself at first base and Stewart beating Collier to the bigs, Collier doesn’t have a place on the other side of the diamond either. However, the former first-rounder is a talent that the Reds won’t part with easily. If choosing between keeping Collier and gaining Kwan, Cincinnati may stick with the youngster.