CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians decided to keep two-time All-Star Steven Kwan, ending days of speculation as Thursday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline passed without a deal materializing for the fan favorite left fielder.

Kwan, a defensive standout with three Gold Glove Awards to his name, will remain with Cleveland at least through the end of this season. However, his future with the franchise is uncertain beyond September. The California native could still be traded in the offseason as he approaches free agency in 2027.

Kwan, 27, has maintained solid production this season despite battling a sore right wrist since mid-May. He is currently batting .286 with a .758 OPS and 53 runs scored. In Wednesday’s 5-0 victory against Colorado, Kwan went 1 for 4 with a single and a run scored, and made a notable gesture toward fans in the left and center field sections after the final out of the game.

Cleveland’s decision to keep Kwan comes amid organizational turbulence, just days after MLB placed closer Emmanuel Clase on paid leave while investigating possible sports gambling violations. With Clase unavailable, president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti and his staff had reportedly shifted focus to exploring Kwan’s trade value.

The Guardians set a high asking price for Kwan, which apparently wasn’t met as other outfielders found new homes before the deadline. Philadelphia acquired Harrison Bader from Minnesota, the Mets traded for Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins, and Jesus Sanchez moved from Miami to Houston, which had reportedly shown strong interest in Kwan.

In the final hour before the deadline, San Diego acquired Ramon Laureano from the Orioles and the Dodgers picked up Alex Call from the Nationals — two former Cleveland outfielders who filled needs where Kwan would have been a fit.

While Kwan stayed put, the Guardians weren’t completely quiet at the deadline, sending former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber to Toronto and veteran right-handed reliever Paul Sewald to division rival Detroit earlier in the day.

Since being drafted in the fifth round from Oregon State in 2018, Kwan has developed into one of baseball’s premier leadoff hitters. He earned a spot on Cleveland’s opening day roster in 2022, finishing third in American League Rookie of the Year voting while helping the club win the AL Central Division title and a wild card series against Tampa Bay.

His career statistics with Cleveland are impressive: a .285 batting average with 594 hits and 318 runs scored across 529 games. Kwan’s plate discipline is exceptional, with more walks (225) than strikeouts (224), and his 9% strikeout rate since 2022 ranks second-lowest in baseball behind only Luis Arraez of the Padres.

Defensively, Kwan has recorded 35 outfield assists as a left fielder, the most at that position since his debut. His 14.2 wins above replacement according to Fangraphs.com leads all major league left fielders during that span.

Kwan has also developed more power, hitting 14 home runs last season after totaling just 11 in his first two years combined. This season continues that trend with 20 doubles and nine home runs, including his first career multi-homer game last week against the Orioles.

Beyond his on-field contributions, Kwan’s community involvement with the Guardians Chess Club and Tru2U mentoring program earned him Cleveland’s 2024 nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award.

Kwan remains under team control through 2027, as he isn’t eligible for free agency until 2028. He agreed to a $4.175 million contract with the Guardians in January to avoid arbitration.

Prior to Wednesday’s game, Kwan expressed his fondness for Cleveland, telling reporters he was open to a contract extension: “I love it here. I love everything about this place. (If) they gave me the opportunity, I would love to.”

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