MLB Mock Trade Proposal: Phillies Land All-Star from Guardians
In this hypothetical MLB trade scenario, the Philadelphia Phillies make a significant move to bolster their outfield by acquiring All-Star Steven Kwan from the Cleveland Guardians in a multi-player deal. Kwan has quietly emerged as one of the most appealing trade targets in baseball due to his consistent offensive production, elite defense, and team-friendly contractual control.
During the 2025 season, Kwan appeared in 156 games for Cleveland and posted a solid slash line of .272/.330/.374. He added 11 home runs, drove in 56 runs, scored 81 times, and stole 21 bases. While his power numbers may not jump off the page, Kwan’s value lies in his exceptional contact skills, disciplined approach at the plate, and ability to impact the game in multiple ways. His defensive excellence in left field has earned him multiple All-Star selections and consecutive Gold Glove awards, further enhancing his appeal to contending teams.
What makes Kwan particularly attractive is his well-rounded profile. He consistently puts the ball in play, reaches base at a high rate, runs well, and plays premium defense in the outfield. Additionally, he remains under team control through the 2027 season and is projected to remain affordable through arbitration, making him an ideal target for teams seeking long-term value without taking on massive payroll commitments.
For the Phillies, Kwan would represent a clear upgrade in left field and provide much-needed balance to the lineup. His ability to set the table at the top of the order would complement Philadelphia’s power-heavy middle of the lineup, while also strengthening the bottom half with consistent at-bats and strong on-base skills.
Proposed Trade Structure
Phillies receive:
- Steven Kwan (OF)
Guardians receive:
- Moisés Chace (RHP)
- Keaton Anthony (1B)
- Gage Wood (RHP)
From a fantasy baseball perspective, Kwan remains a dependable asset. In 2025, he delivered steady production in batting average, runs, stolen bases, and on-base percentage. His speed and consistency give him a high floor in redraft leagues, especially for managers prioritizing average and runs scored. While his power ceiling is limited, his reliability makes him a valuable lineup piece.
Moisés Chace is a developing pitching prospect who spent the season in Double-A, where he posted a 3.24 ERA across limited innings. Though not yet a major league contributor, he profiles as a potential mid-rotation starter with long-term fantasy appeal in dynasty formats.
Keaton Anthony showed impressive offensive growth while splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A, hitting .323 with a strong on-base percentage and emerging power. He projects as a future corner infield option and carries upside in deeper dynasty leagues.
Gage Wood, Philadelphia’s 2025 first-round selection, offers the highest ceiling of the group. Armed with a mid-90s fastball and strikeout potential, Wood is viewed as a long-term rotation piece, though he remains years away from contributing at the MLB level.
Why Philadelphia Makes the Move
For the Phillies, this deal represents a win-now strategy. Kwan’s proven production, defensive reliability, and ability to get on base would immediately improve lineup efficiency and run creation. With organizational depth at the prospect level, Philadelphia can afford to move future assets to secure a dependable major-league contributor.
Why Cleveland Considers the Trade
From Cleveland’s perspective, trading Kwan would be difficult, but the return offers long-term upside. Acquiring multiple young players allows the Guardians to replenish their farm system, maintain payroll flexibility, and align with their development-focused approach while preparing for future contention.
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