Here's an interesting Phillies trade idea.
Phillies Trade Idea Pairs Bryce Harper With 2-Time All-Star Outfielder originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Cliff Lee and Steven Kwan already have plenty in common as left-handed standouts who earned All-Star honors while with the Cleveland Guardians.
There are differences, mind you, considering that Lee was a starting pitcher, and Kwan is a reliable corner outfielder. However, there’s nonetheless a theoretical path for Kwan to follow in Lee’s footsteps yet again.
Back in 2009, the Phillies acquired Lee from the then-Indians ahead of the trade deadline. Lee wasted no time in helping the Phillies win their second straight NL pennant, although their quest for a World Series repeat ended at the New York Yankees’ hands.
If the 40-48 Guardians sell within the coming weeks, the Phillies must consider inquiring about Kwan to help fix their outfield.
It’s been another excellent season for Kwan, who earned his second straight All-Star nod on Sunday. The three-time Gold Glove winner is batting .298 with six home runs, 28 RBIs, 20 doubles, and a .776 OPS in 85 games.
Would the Guardians really trade Kwan, even amid a 10-game losing streak? An unnamed NL executive told The Athletic’s Jayson Stark that they could indeed see a Kwan deal this month.
“I think Cleveland always just plays the Tampa Bay-type long game,” an NL executive told Stark. “So they could flip some pieces. ... But I don’t see a big sell coming.”
Good luck to opposing pitchers facing a lineup featuring Kwan, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner. Kwan boasts a .358 on-base percentage and 30 walks to 31 strikeouts, which would be excellent news for the Phillies’ core hitters.
Kwan has exclusively played left field for the last three years, which would almost certainly spell the end of Max Kepler’s starting tenure. However, Philadelphia may need to give up considerable assets for a two-time All-Star who is under team control through 2027.
The 53-37 Phillies own a 1 1/2-game lead over the New York Mets in the NL East. Acquiring Kwan might be the move that puts Rob Thomson’s club over the top.
Related: Yankees Make Unexpected Trade Amid Latest Losing Streak
Related: 3 MLB Landing Spots for SP Luis Severino Before Trade Deadline
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
