Dodgers Narrowly Missed on Blockbuster Trade for Guardians All-Star: Report
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Los Angeles Dodgers didn't steal the show at the trade deadline, which was something of a surprise.
While the division-rival San Diego Padres were making impact additions one after the other, the Dodgers merely added at the margins, beefing up their bullpen with Brock Stewart and giving themselves another outfield option in Alex Call.
However, it could have been much, much more if the Cleveland Guardians were willing to play ball.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 24: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on July 24,...
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 24: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on July 24, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. MoreIt may have been lost in the shuffle of all the deals that did get done on Thursday, but the Dodgers apparently wanted to trade for Guardians two-time All-Star left fielder Steven Kwan.
On Sunday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on just how close the Dodgers came in their pursuit.
"(The Dodgers) were badly trying to acquire Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, believing he would be the perfect fit to replace Michael Conforto in left field. But after hours of negotiations, were left empty-handed. The consolation prize was Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Call," wrote Nightengale.
"Everyone in baseball though they were getting Kwan," one GM said, per Nightengale.
Kwan would have been the perfect addition to a Dodgers lineup that includes a slough of power hitters, as a pesky contact bat at the top of the order and a Gold Glover in left.
Cleveland wound up trading starting pitcher Shane Bieber, but held onto Kwan, who won't be a free agent for two more years, despite murmurs that closer Emmanuel Clase's involvement in Major League Baseball's gambling investigation could facilitate more of a fire sale.
The good news for LA is that if it ever wants Kwan, it's got two more years to pursue him. The bad news would come into play if the Dodgers wind up one bat short in the postseason.
More MLB: Red Sox Open Intriguing New Path For Fan-Favorite Prospect To Reach MLB
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Guardians reliever Nic Enright, battling lymphoma, earns emotional first save
NEW YORK — The first career save for Nic Enright was a particularly meaningful one . Enright, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in late 2022 and is scheduled to complete his treatments later this year, allowed an unearned run in the 10th inning Monday night to close out the Cleveland Guardians' 7-6 win over the New York Mets .
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
Scouting Report On Cleveland Guardians' Prospect, C.J. Kayfus
The Cleveland Guardians promoted first baseman/outfielder, Collin Joseph (C.J.) Kayfus from their Triple-A Columbus affiliate. Kayfus, 23, is another left-handed hitter, playing among the Guardians long list of organizational left-handed hitters. Kayfus made his Major League Baseball debut August 2, 2025, against the Minnesota Twins. Kayfus played right-field, and hit in the nine hole in the batting order. Kayfus got his first MLB hit August 3, in the 9th inning against the Twins. He smoked a double to the right/center gap. In the game, Kayfus went 0/4, with a ground out RBI in the first inning. About C.J. Kayfus: Kayfus is 6-0, 192 pounds, which is not a large frame for a first baseman. ranked Kayfus the No. 4 prospect in the Guardians organization, behind Travis Bazzana, Chase DeLauter and Angel Genao. Even though Kayfus hit very well at Palm Beach Central High in Wellington, Florida, he wasn't drafted by any MLB team after his senior year. At the time, scouts thought Kayfus lacked sufficient power to be an impactful MLB first baseman. It was Kayfus' performances in two years in the highly regarded Cape Cod Summer League that convinced the Guardians to draft him. He was a league All Star in 2022. Kayfus was a third round, 2023 draft pick the Guardians, signing out of the University of Miami. He received a $700,000 signing bonus. While at Miami, Kayfus played three seasons, he played mostly at first base, with a smattering of playing time in left field, and right field. While at Miami, Kayfus hit a combined .293/.395/.525/.920, with 35 homers, and 165 RBIs in 927 plate appearances. Kayfus walked 118 times in college, while striking out in 222 at-bats. Kayfus was placed on the Guardians 40-man roster on August 2, 2025. Now he is wearing No. 63. Scouting C.J. Kayfus: C.J. Kayfus has a nice, smooth, left-handed swing. Kayfus is a natural hitter, with a good approach facing left-handed, same-side pitchers. To this writer, Kayfus has a very credible hit tool, which should lead to a good batting average and impressive on-base statistics. While he didn't show a power stroke in high school, Kayfus has clearly become a power hitting option in the Guardians development program. Kayfus had 927 plate appearances in his minor league development program, hitting 35 homers and driving in 165 runs. In 2024, at Class A Advanced, and Double-A, Kayfus had 17 homers in 481 plate appearances. This past season, playing at both Double-A and Triple-A, Kayfus added another 14 homers, and 54 RBIs. The power is clearly on the rise. Kayfus does not fit the usual Guardians profile of a consistent, high content hitter. There is some strikeout in his game, and scouts have always raised concerns about Kayfus' high strikeout rate. In fact, this year he has whiffed 93 times, while accepting 44 walks. If he can be selective at the plate, Kayfus could provide the Guardians with a budding, emerging, sorely needed home run hitting bat in their lineup. Beginning in his impactful 2024 season, Kayfus began to launch more balls in the air, finding the barrel of the bat with some impressive consistency. If he doesn't hit the ball out of the park, Kayfus can find the right/center gap with pretty consistent pull power from the left batter's box. Defensively, the Guardians outfield coaches will have the opportunity to help Kayfus learn the proper angles, routes, and reads off the bat to balls hit to right, and right center. He is far from a finished product in the outfield. Athletic and quick to the ball at first base, Kayfus can probably offer above average defense at first. He won't make anyone forget the Gold Glove defense of Carlos Santana. But Kayfus is not a liability at the position. It is likely Kayfus and Kyle Manzardo, another left-handed hitter, will be the Guardians duo at first base next year. Unless, of course, Kayfus shines in right field, which is a glaring need of the Guardians. But Kayfus might have a great career with the bat, just like Santana. Scouting Grade: 55 Kayfus' best tools are his hitting ability and his power upside. Both of those are above average, and much needed by this , and future editions of the Cleveland Guardians. Kayfus is average to below average as a runner, a Grade 50 in that category. Overall, Kayfus is an above average, Grade 55 player, who now has a golden opportunity.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Where HoopsHype ranked Luka Doncic among the NBA's best point guards
Many people have considered Luka Doncic one of the three to five best players in the NBA over the last few years. It's no wonder why, as he has career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists a game and possesses the third-highest regular-season scoring average and second-best playoff scoring average in league history. Now that he has transformed his body this summer, his best basketball could be ahead of him, and that is a scary proposition for every NBA team not named the Los Angeles Lakers. But in HoopsHype's latest ranking of the league's top point guards, Doncic came in second behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. "Following the disrespect of shockingly being traded by Dallas, the franchise that Doncic expected to spend his entire career with, it seems the Slovenian superstar has taken that to heart and used it to motivate him this offseason," wrote Frank Urbina. "Considering that Doncic historically hasn't always been the best about taking his summers seriously as far as his fitness level, that could be a great sign for the Los Angeles Lakers - and a scary one for the team's opponents in 2025-26. "An elite scorer, playmaker and rebounder for his position, Doncic is just lacking on the defensive side of the ball, but perhaps with his improved fitness level heading into the campaign, that might change, too. Regardless, Doncic remains on the path of first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, and we expect him to get right back to 1st Team All-NBA-level play in 2025-26, which should put the Lakers in championship contender status." In a way, it does make sense that Gilgeous-Alexander earned the top spot in HoopsHype's ranking. He just finished a campaign in which he led the NBA in scoring and earned the regular-season and finals MVP awards, not to mention his first championship. But he isn't the passer or rebounder that Doncic is, and he may not be quite as deadly as Doncic is in crunch time. Urbina did mention that HoopsHype could regret ranking the Lakers superstar at No. 2 by next summer, especially given that he is much leaner and fitter now.
