Latest news with #ClevelandGuardians
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Steven Kwan Trade? Phillies Urged To Land Deadline Deal For Guardians Star
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Philadelphia Phillies desperately need to add an outfielder at the trade deadline following their blockbuster deal to acquire Minnesota Twins flamethrower Jhoan Durán. After trading two of MLB Pipeline's top-100 prospects to land Durán, the Phillies don't have too many other prospects to use as trade bait, unless their front office wants to take a chance on a controllable outfielder. FanSided's Christopher Kline recently suggested the Phillies could swing a big trade for Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan ahead of the trade deadline this week. CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 24: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on July 24,... CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 24: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on July 24, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. More"Dave Dombrowski and the front office need to keep working, though. This Phillies core is reaching the end of the road. They only have so many deep runs left in them," Kline wrote. "Finding ways to add controllable talent that can help them win games right now is the goal. One more blockbuster might just put the Phillies in pole position in the National League. "Kwan is on the trade block as the Guardians fade out of contention in the AL Central. With back-to-back All-Star berths under his belt at 27 years old, you'd be hard-pressed to find many better trade candidates floating around the marketplace." Kwan would be the dream addition for the Phillies. Not only would he add a Gold Glove defender to the Phillies' outfield every day, but he would give them another top-of-the-lineup bat. Placing the star outfielder at the top of the lineup with Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper would give the Phillies one of the best lineups in baseball. But it would cost them a lot of prospect capital. If Philadelphia can pull this trade off without crippling their farm system, then it's the deal it needs to make. More MLB: Padres Continue To Pursue Trade For Red Sox's Jarren Duran As Deadline Nears
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Cleveland Guardians must avoid trading Steven Kwan before 2025 deadline
The post Why Cleveland Guardians must avoid trading Steven Kwan before 2025 deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints. Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan made his second consecutive All-Star team in 2025. With the Guardians struggling for the most part — 46-49 record and in fourth place in the American League Central — Kwan's name has been mentioned in recent trade rumors. Aside from the obvious 'he's a really good player', why should the Guardians proceed with caution before dealing the outfielder to a contender in 2025? After all, it certainly wouldn't be the first time the small-market Guardians traded a star away. Without further ado, here are three reasons why the Guardians must avoid making a Steven Kwan trade before the 2025 deadline. Steven Kwan's play-style is rare in today's MLB In the modern era of baseball, superstars are often defined by home runs and OPS. There is not as much respect for batting average, and defense is often overlooked. Much of what Kwan brings to the table is rare in today's game, and Cleveland should think twice before moving in a different direction as a result. Steven Kwan positively impacts winning. He even brought the Guardians' small-ball attack to the All-Star Game by hitting a game-tying RBI infield single in the 9th inning. Kwan's .285/.345/.396 slash line and .741 OPS do not scream 'superstar' by any means. He's also only hit six home runs in 2025. Yet, this is a player who rarely strikes out, gets on base at a respectable rate, causes havoc on the base paths and plays quality defense in left field. Already a three-time Gold Glove winner in his career, Kwan has stolen 11 bases up to this point in the '25 campaign. He's also hit 20 doubles, so it isn't as if Kwan is only a singles hitter. Kwan's 8.4 strike out percentage is among the best in the sport. While many sluggers are willing to trade more strikeouts for a bigger swing and additional home runs, Kwan excels at putting the ball in play and making defenses work hard. Speed, defense and batting average may not be valued as much as over-the-fence pop in the modern era of baseball, but the Guardians will have a difficult time finding another star who does all three things at a high rate. Guardians' outfield uncertainty The Guardians have struggled to find reliable outfielders in recent years. True fans of the team will remember the days of Grady Sizemore, with his peak coming from 2005-2008. Since then, Cleveland has featured a few quality outfielders, but there haven't been many true stars. Shin-Soo Choo enjoyed some big seasons in Cleveland after Sizemore's dominance. Michael Brantley emerged as a star in the 2010's decade. David Fry earned an All-Star selection a season ago. However, the Guardians have endured trouble when it comes to developing outfielders for the most part. Pitching hasn't been a problem. In fact, the Guardians are known as a 'pitching factory.' Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana, Josh Naylor, Jason Kipnis and Andres Gimenez are just a few of the infielders who have found success with the ball club over the past decade. Outfield has not been as certain, though, so moving on from a star such as Steven Kwan presents additional risk for a team like the Guardians. There are no guarantees that Cleveland will add another star in the outfield anytime soon. Kwan's contract with the Guardians At just 27 years old, Kwan is still under team control through the 2027 season. Even if Cleveland doesn't sign Kwan to a contract extension, the outfielder will remain with the Guardians for at least two more seasons following the '25 campaign if a trade does not come to fruition. Will the Guardians enter a rebuild? Possibly, and a trade can be seriously discussed next season if that ends up happening. For now, though, there is no reason to trade Kwan. Cleveland reached the postseason in 2024 and the Guardians could bounce back sooner rather than later. Building around Kwan and Jose Ramirez could become the team's plan. The Guardians previously signed Ramirez to a contract extension. Perhaps Cleveland may consider signing Kwan to an extension as well. Extension talks have not been reported, but it is a route the Guardians should consider before going all in on a trade. Related: CC Sabathia's heartwarming Guardians Hall of Fame admission Related: Guardians' pitcher still being investigated over alleged gambling situation
Newsweek
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Guardians Make Shane Bieber Trade Decision After Emmanuel Clase Suspension
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Cleveland Guardians have seemingly been on the fence ahead of the trade deadline. Last season, they were a contender, but this year, they don't look to be very competitive at all. Recently, Emmanuel Clase, the team's All-MLB closer, was hit with a suspension as the league investigates him for potential gambling. This suspension is likely to force the Guardians into being sellers at the deadline, and it could impact the entire league. MLB's Mark Feinsand recently reported the Guardians were "trying to move" starting pitcher Shane Bieber at the deadline following Clase's suspension. CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 08: Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Guardians is introduced before the home opener against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on April 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 08: Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Guardians is introduced before the home opener against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on April 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio."The Guardians are 'trying to move' both Steven Kwan and Shane Bieber, per source. Bieber made his fourth rehab start on Tuesday, striking out seven with no walks in four innings," Feinsand wrote in a post to Twitter/X on Wednesday afternoon. "He's returning from April 2024 Tommy John surgery and has a $16M player option ($4M buyout) for 2026." Bieber hasn't pitched this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, but he's nearing a return to the big leagues. It's hard to imagine the Guardians would ask for much in return for the former ace, as his health is a huge question mark at the moment. But teams like the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees are desperate to add starting pitching. One of these teams could take a flyer on the former Cy Young winner. Either way, the Guardians are seemingly entering sell mode, with practically nobody off limits at this point. We could see Cleveland involved in four or five big trades at the deadline if the front office plays its cards right. More MLB: Mets Blockbuster? New York Linked To Superstar Closer As Deadline Nears
Newsweek
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Dodgers Reportedly Pursuing Steven Kwan From Guardians, Per Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Los Angeles Dodgers are ready to make moves at the trade deadline, and they have their eyes on one of the biggest bats on the market. MLB insider Jon Heyman is reporting the Dodgers are keeping their eyes on Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, and he lists one of the players who could go back to Cleveland in a trade. CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 29: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians rounds second base on a hit by Daniel Schneemann #10 during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Progressive Field on July... CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 29: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians rounds second base on a hit by Daniel Schneemann #10 during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Progressive Field on July 29, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. More"Dodgers are one of many teams in on Guardians All-Star LF Steven Kwan," Heyman wrote in a post on X. "Dodgers could form a nice package starting with top catching prospect Dalton Rushing, who is blocked for years by MVP candidate Will Smith." In addition to adding relievers, it's unsurprising Los Angeles wants to add an outfielder to its team. Left fielder Michael Conforto has been a major disappointment for the Dodgers so far this year, and he's running out of time to keep his starting spot. As Heyman mentions, Rushing could be one of the main pieces going back to the Guardians in exchange for Kwan. Rushing has no path to the majors right now, and the Dodgers wouldn't want to keep him in Triple-A. Given that Kwan has 2 1/2 years of team control remaining, it will take a lot more than Rushing to get the Guardians to accept a deal. The Dodgers would likely have to part with Rushing plus two of their top five prospects for Cleveland to even consider a deal. The Dodgers know adding a bat like Kwan would help them with their ultimate goal: winning the World Series again. Whether they want to be this aggressive remains to be seen. More MLB: Astros Trade Rumors: Team Increases Interest In Padres' Dylan Cease
Forbes
17 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
30 Major League Teams Spend Record $392.5 Million On 2025 Draft Picks
Baseball is a game of records, though the modern fan seems to focus less on in-game production and more on extravagant paychecks. The 30 MLB teams didn't disappoint this month by breaking numerous spending records on their 2025 draft picks. They doled out a record $392,533,711 in signing bonuses for drafted players, $18.2 million more than the $374,345,077 paid a year ago. Even the Cleveland Guardians, considered among the most cost-conscious clubs, set a spending record according to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline. They paid $4 million to first-round choice Jace Laviolette, a slugging outfielder from Texas A&M. That was about $618,000 over what MLB set as a $3.382 million recommended slot value for the No. 27 choice. It was a surprising anomaly this year as only two other clubs went over the slot blueprint in the first round. Clubs more than made up for it by paying out higher values to lower picks. A year ago, Cleveland held the No. 1 pick and paid Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana a team-record $8.95 million. That was below the MLB slot value of $10,570,600. A few other significant monetary marks were established. Baltimore's Bundle The Orioles had their own choice at No. 19. They received pick No. 30 as compensation for losing free agent pitcher Corbin Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks and No. 31 for losing free agent outfielder Anthony Santander to the Toronto Blue Jays. They acquired pick No. 37 from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade for reliever Bryan Baker on July 10. Baltimore picked hard-hitting Auburn catcher Ike Irish at No. 19. His slot value was $4,420,900 and he got $4,418,400, The team claimed the $2,500 difference as a contingency bonus, meaning that amount could be saved in their overall bonus pool to be used elsewhere. Next, the Orioles took Coastal Carolina catcher Caden Bodine 30th and paid him exact slot value of $3,113,300. The switch hitter is considered an elite defender as well. The club is considering switching Irish to the outfield. One pick later, Baltimore took power-hitting Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy and paid exact slot $3,042,800. They rounded out their early cache by paying $4 million to Oregon high school outfielder Slater de Brun at No. 37. That was well above the $2,631,400 slot value for the 37th choice, but the team did it to keep him from honoring his signing commitment to play college ball at Vanderbilt. National Treasures High school shortstop Eli Willits was the surprise No. 1 pick by the Washington Nationals. The financial figures of his signing are somewhat surprising, too. The slot value was $11,075,900. He got $8,200,000, a record for a prep player before Holliday broke it. But Willits' agreeing to take less probably was a factor in being picked ahead of Holliday and other highly ranked prospects. Washington took the money 'saved' and spent it on three other prep players. Third-round choice Landon Harmon, a pitcher, and fifth-rounder Coy James, a shortstop, each got $2.5 million. Fourth-rounder Miguel Sime, a pitcher from Brooklyn, N.Y., got $2 million. Those deals were all well above slot value. Signing Them All Increased spending has helped MLB teams become more proficient than ever at signing their pick. This year, 576 of 615 draftees signed. That 93.7% rate is the highest for a regular draft. Only the Covid 19 pandemic-shortened five-round 2020 draft was better, when all 160 picks signed. How good was that 100 percent signing rate at nabbing players who made it to the Major League level? Here are the percentages and best players thus far: Sixty Years Ago The first MLB Draft was held in 1965 and 65% (13 of 20) of the first-round picks made it to MLB, led by No. 1 choice Rick Monday of the Oakland Athletics. He signed for $100,000. The 36th choice overall, by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round, was a high school catcher from Oklahoma – Hall of Famer Johnny Bench. He signed for $6,000. The Los Angeles Dodgers took Tom Seaver in the 10th round, but the future Hall of Famer asked for $50,000. The Dodgers offered $3,000, so he stayed at Southern Cal and was picked by the Atlanta Braves at No. 20 overall in the January 1966 draft. Seaver signed for $40,000, but the contract was ruled illegal as his college team had already begun playing that year. That was against MLB rules, but he could not go back to USC, either, after signing a pro deal. MLB ruled that any team other than Atlanta could submit offers of at least $40,000 with the winner literally being picked out of a hat. The Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets submitted bids. The Mets' bid was picked and Seaver got $51,000. What surprises are in store among players picked in the 2025 MLB Draft? Since only 615 players were chosen, it will not produce another surprise like Mike Piazza. The slugging catcher is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1988, he was selected in the 62nd found – No. 1,390 overall – by the Dodgers.
