To CIN: OF Steven Kwan
To CLE: RHP Brady Singer, OF Rece Hinds, OF Hector Rodriguez

How It Makes the Reds Better: Will Sammon and Kate Woo of The Athletic described JJ Bleday and Dane Myers as “upside players who offer protection in the event they’re unable to make a bigger acquisition,” so the door is not closed on the Reds potentially searching for an upgrade in left field.

Steven Kwan is a two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner over his first four seasons in the majors, and with two years of club control remaining, he would be more than just a rental upgrade. His power is limited, but generating over-the-fence production is generally not an issue at Great American Ball Park, and his defense, speed and contact skills would be a welcome addition to the Reds lineup.

How It Makes the Guardians Better: Kwan saw his salary jump from the league minimum to $4.175 million last season in his first year of arbitration, and that figure is projected to more than double to $8.8 million in 2026. That’s a big number for a penny-pinching Cleveland organization, and if they don’t intend to lock him up long-term, now could be the time to flip him.

Brady Singer is a one-year rental, but he would join Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee at the top of the rotation and would amount to roughly a $3 million addition to the payroll when balanced with Kwan’s projected salary. Meanwhile, Rece Hinds and Hector Rodriguez provide two more candidates to fill out the Cleveland outfield, as they would join Chase DeLauter, George Valera, Nolan Jones, Johnathan Rodríguez and others in the battle for outfield playing time.