As the July 31 trade deadline nears, the Philadelphia Phillies have been widely rumored to be in pursuit of shutdown relievers. Although the bullpen needs a significant upgrade for the playoff push, acquiring an outfielder could be a possibility as well.
Nick Castellanos has been the Phillies’ top offensive outfielder in 2025 with a .269 batting average, 22 doubles, 13 home runs and 55 RBIs. Brandon Marsh’s .244 batting average is the next highest among the team’s outfielders.
Max Kepler has been a failed experiment after signing with the Phillies during the offseason, owning a .204 batting average and being a part of a platoon in left field. After a hot start to the season, Johan Rojas has cooled off at the plate and has been unable to prove himself as a major league-caliber hitter.
Phillies fans have been calling for a change in the outfield, whether that’s bringing Justin Crawford up from Triple-A or trading for an outfielder before the deadline. The Cleveland Guardians may have the perfect trade chip to satisfy the fans’ needs.
Phillies Rumors: ESPN tabs Philadelphia as best fit for Steven Kwan at trade deadline
If the Guardians, who sit two and a half games out of an American League Wild Card spot, decide to be sellers, Steven Kwan will garner a lot of interest from teams looking to upgrade their outfield. Kwan has earned consecutive All-Star selections in 2024 and 2025 and has been awarded a Gold Glove in each of the previous three seasons since debuting in 2022.
Kwan is a left-handed hitting left fielder who has elite bat-to-ball skills. He’s had 140 or more hits, including a career-high 171 hits in 2023, in each of his first three seasons and has 106 hits through 95 games in 2025.
Despite a .268 batting average in 2023, Kwan has hit over .290 twice and owns a .285 batting average entering Thursday. He’s not known for his power, but he doesn’t strike out often and has a low whiff percentage.
With the Phillies rumored to be looking for outfield upgrades, ESPN listed them as one of the best fits for Kwan if he’s traded. Although the Guardians are unlikely to part with their leadoff hitter, if a team comes calling with the right price, a deal could get done.
It will likely take a substantial package for the Guardians to accept a trade offer for Kwan. The 27-year-old is under club control for two more years and is one of the best leadoff hitters in the majors.
Kwan has been dealing with a wrist injury, similar to Bryce Harper’s, which kept him out of the Guardians’ lineup for two straight games after the All-Star break. The team was optimistic for a quick return and didn’t feel as though a trip to the IL was necessary, and Kwan was back in the lineup this week.