Steven Kwan has won a Gold Glove in each of his four seasons in the major leagues. It’s hard to top that.

However, the Pittsburgh Pirates have interest in the Cleveland Guardians’ left fielder for more than his defensive prowess. As a left-handed hitter with a .351 career on-base percentage, Kwan would be a good fit atop the Pirates’ batting order as they look to upgrade an offense that finished last in MLB in runs scored, home runs, and OPS this year.

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Kwan had the worst season of his career in 2025, but it certainly wasn’t a bad year. He hit .272/.330/.374 with 11 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 156 games. Kwan also had an impressive 22 defensive runs saved and an American League-leading 13 outfield assists.

Kwan, 28, has two years of contractual control left before becoming a free agent following the 2027 season. The two-time All-Star is eligible for arbitration and will likely have a salary in the $8.5 million-$9 million range next season.

What would the Pirates have to give to the Guardians for Kwan in a trade? A decent amount, according to industry sources.

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The Guardians would like to add bullpen depth after manager Stephen Vogt used his relievers frequently while winning AL Central titles each of the last two seasons. One pitcher who would pique the Guardians’ interest is right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski.

Mlodzinski has a 3.25 ERA in 109 games and 185 2/3 innings over three seasons in the big leagues. Take out his 17 starts, some of which have been as an opener, and his career ERA dips to 2.71. Making Mlodzinski even more desirable is that he is not eligible for arbitration until after next season.

The Guardians are looking for right-handed hitters, and infielder/outfielder Nick Yorke could be a fit. Despite being 23 and showing potential, Yorke appears to be blocked in the Pirates’ organization. Though not a center fielder by trade, Yorke is athletic enough to play the position and fill a Guardians’ need.

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The Pirates would also probably have to part with one of their many pitching prospects and could include right-hander Wilber Dotel in the deal. Dotel pitched at Double-A this past season, and Baseball America ranks him as the Pirates’ No. 9 prospect.

Would it be too much to give up, even for an All-Star-caliber player who wouldn’t be a rental? It would at least be something Pirates general manager Ben Cherington would have to think about.