CLEVELAND, Ohio — When last season ended for the Guardians, they had eight players eligible for arbitration. Now they have one — Steven Kwan.

Kwan and the Guardians, should they not reach a deal beforehand, will exchange salary figures for the 2026 season on Friday. If the two cannot reach a deal at that point, the Guardians could go to an arbitration hearing with one of their best players.

MLB Trade Rumors projected that Kwan could earn $8.8 million if he went to arbitration. Baseball Prospectus projects his 2026 salary at $9.175 million. Kwan made $4.175 million last year.

In the past, the two sides have talked about a multiyear extension, but when the 2026 season starts, Kwan will be two years removed from free agency. When a player gets that close to free agency, the chances of a team signing him to an extension become more difficult. It’s especially true when a player has performed as consistently as Kwan, a four-time Gold Glove winner and two-time All-Star in left field.

Another factor could play a role in preventing a possible extension. The basic agreement ends after the 2026 season, and there is talk of a prolonged work stoppage.

Last season, Kwan hit .272 (170 for 625) with 81 runs and 21 steals in 26 attempts. He hit 29 doubles with 11 homers and a .768 OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage).

In four years in Cleveland, Kwan is a .281 (649 for 2306) hitter with 346 runs, 36 homers and 206 RBI. He has a 3.7 WAR and a .741 OPS.

If a deal isn’t reached by Friday, the Guardians would likely follow the approach most MLB teams have taken: going to arbitration even though a deal can be negotiated at any time before a hearing starts.

Of the eight Guardians who were eligible for arbitration at the end of last season, three signed one-year deals — Nolan Jones $2 million, David Fry $1.375 million and Matt Festa $1 million. Will Brennan and Sam Hentges were non-tendered. Kolby Allard and Ben Lively were outrighted off the 40-man roster and became free agents earlier in the offseason.

Kwan, providing he’s not traded, would be the Guardians’ biggest expenditure of the winter. They certainly haven’t gone overboard in their spending.

Cleveland’s biggest expense to date has been the $5.5 million deal they gave free agent right-hander Shawn Armstrong. He’ll make $4 million in 2026 with a $1.5 buyout on an $8 million mutual option for 2027.

They currently have an estimated $56 million committed to 11 players. If they pay the remaining 15 players on the 26-man roster an estimated salary of $800,000 each — the major league minimum for the 2026 season is $780,000 — their payroll would be an estimated $78 million.

That does not include the $3.5 million they owe right-hander Trevor Stephan, who is not on the 40-man roster, but is expected to be invited to camp. They also owe $1 million to Myles Straw, who they traded to Toronto in September 2023.

Last season, when the Guardians won their second straight AL Central title, they opened the year with a payroll of an estimated $100 million.

The Guardians still have time to increase the payroll before the regular season opens March 26. They have made it clear they don’t want to add mid-tier free agents who could stunt the development of the core of players they have been developing over the last several seasons.

The last time the Guardians opened a season with a payroll less than $78 million was 2022. They went into that season opener with a $68 million payroll and won the AL Central with 92 wins.

Bad news for Big Christmas

Jhonkensy Noel, aka Big Christmas, thought he found a new home Monday when the Orioles claimed him on waivers from the Guardians. However, Noel was designated for assignment Wednesday when the Orioles claimed outfielder Marco Luciano on waivers from the Pirates.

It’s been reported that the Guardians have signed right-hander Ettore Giulianelli from the Cardinals, but the team has not confirmed it. It seems Giulianelli is still under contract to an independent team.