The New York Yankees have an important offseason ahead of them, as they need to make some moves to contend with the flurry of transactions that have been made by other AL East teams. The first thing on their plate, however, is finding a potential replacement for their All-Star outfielder, Cody Bellinger.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller believes that while the Yanks could go out and try to sign Kyle Tucker, they could also go with a more cost-effective solution. That solution is trading for Cleveland Guardians All-Star and Gold Glove Steven Kwan.
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“There's also the trade block, though, where Kwan could be a fantastic addition in left field, both as a four-time Gold Glove recipient and as a guy who can get on base at a great clip ahead of Aaron Judge in this lineup. Kwan would also be a two-year commitment, which could be key with Spencer Jones eventually coming,” Miller wrote.
This past season, Kwan slashed.272/.330/.374/.705 with 29 doubles, 11 home runs, and 56 RBI in 156 games played. His glove would be a major upgrade over Bellinger’s, as he’s won the Gold Glove for left field four times, literally every year of his MLB career.
Kwan doesn’t hit for power, but in a Yankees lineup that’s basically only power, having one guy get on base through contact is something that they shouldn’t say no to. Plus, Kwan’s $8.5 million contract for 2026 and two years of arbitration will be welcome news to Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, who wants to cut payroll but still contend.
Hopefully, this is the move the Yankees opt for, and start working on negotiations now, before other contenders jump in.
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