Guardians urged to make fan-friendly Steven Kwan and Emmanuel Clase decisions

The Cleveland Guardians are one of many teams expected to be at a crossroads at the MLB trade deadline. With a chance to turn things around before the deadline, Cleveland could become a buyer. But, with their odds of selling much higher, the extent of their sale will come into question.

Ahead of the MLB trade deadline, Zach Pressnell of Fansided.com is urging the Guardians to make a fan-friendly decision. With the Guardians' struggles lately, both Steven Kwan and Emmanuel Clase are in trade rumors. 

"But this would be a foolish overreaction for the Guardians to make." Pressnell writes. "Cleveland doesn't need to trade these two players. The duo has multiple years of team control on their contracts each. Instead of using the duo as trade pieces, they should continue to build around them."

There have been trade rumors swirling with both, and Clase has been linked to a few teams in potential trade deadline blockbusters. But, at the end of the day, the Guardians, in Pressnells' eyes, shouldn't move on from either.

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Clase, while not as great as his 0.61 ERA last season, is still an above-average closer with a 3.05 ERA and 40 strikeouts this season in 41.1 innings pitched. He's been solid, and with him under control through 2027, there's no reason to move him now.

Kwan is the same, except his trade would be even more questionable. The Guardians' offense has struggled, and moving on from one of the best offensive pieces would be a strange move to make.

If Kwan weren't in Cleveland, Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo would be the only batters with an OPS above .700. Trading Kwan is the last thing that Cleveland should do at the deadline, even if they could get a strong return for the All-Star outfielder.

Pressnell wants the Guardians to take a very simple stance at the trade deadline. He wants both Clase and Kwan to remain on the roster for the 2025 and 2026 seasons at least. Moving on from both would be a complete forfeiture of the season and the 2026 season as well. With Ramirez in his prime, it'd be, in Pressnell's words, "A complete waste."

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