​Cubs linked to trade idea with Guardians for Gold Glove OF that would be a mistake originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Chicago Cubs are going to have a lot of work to do this offseason. While the 2026 season ended in disappointment, with the team getting eliminated quickly in the NL Wild Card, the offseason might have even more disappointment on the horizon.So many of the team’s starting rotation is hitting the open market, but the more pressing matter might be the free agency of Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ. Two of the starting outfielders are set to become free agents, leaving the Cubs with questions.Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report presented a trade idea that would resolve one of their outfield spots by trading for Cleveland Guardians Gold Glove OF Steven Kwan. But this trade would be a mistake, as Kwan wouldn’t be the difference-maker the Cubs need.Cubs trade idea that lands Steven Kwan from Guardians would be a mistake”Cleveland Guardians send: OF Steven Kwan (arbitration-eligible in 2027). Chicago Cubs send: RHP Jaxon Wiggins (Triple-A prospect), UTIL James Tiantos (controllable through at least 2032),” Miller proposed.Adding Kwan, on paper, sounds like a good idea. There are plenty of teams that would love a Gold Glove outfielder to join their team. The Cubs know well how valuable defense is.But with Kwan slated to be in the final year of his club control, trading prospects for him when they could instead re-sign one of Suzuki or Happ would make this hypothetical trade make less sense.Of course, there’s a scenario where Happ and Suzuki find new landing spots. Kwan then wouldn’t be a terrible option. But while he’s a four-time Gold Glove defender, his offensive production leaves a lot to be desired.MORE: How Mets, Dodgers and Guardians all made same brutal trade mistake amid MVP racesHe has 801 hits in five seasons, but has just 238 RBIs and 39 homers in that same time. This year, he has 152 hits with three home runs and 32 RBIs.Kwan is hitting .282 in his career, but has just a .739 OPS and 110 OPS+ during his time in the big leagues. Those are above-average numbers, but not enough of a difference to justify adding him to replace Happ or Suzuki.That’s especially the case when considering his power numbers. He might have decent statistics overall, but his lack of impact with power is worth worrying about.Besides, the Cubs would have to move prospects to get Kwan from the Guardians, and he’d only be a rental.Since they need an outfielder, it makes more sense for this Cubs team to try to get someone long-term, or sign a rental in free agency as opposed to trading for one.More MLB news:White Sox reportedly have ‘no urgency’ to sign Munetaka Murakami to an extensionMariners’ Josh Naylor joins Hall of Famer George Sisler with rare SB MLB historyWhy Dodgers told Andy Pages to stop challenging pitches after Game 1 mistakeBrewers’ Jacob Misiorowski made MLB playoff