The Cincinnati Reds are currently playing solid baseball, but they haven’t quite reached their full potential.
With a 48-46 record and just 3.0 games behind in the National League Wild Card race, the Reds are at a crossroads with the trade deadline quickly approaching—they need to decide whether to buy or sell.
At the moment, all signs point toward Cincinnati becoming buyers.
They have a real opportunity to return to the postseason for the first time since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and for the first time in a full 162-game season since 2013.
With the July 31 deadline looming, now is the time for the Reds to capitalize.
One trade in particular could dramatically improve their playoff odds heading into the stretch run.
Reds Target Steven Kwan in Potential Trade with Guardians
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Steven Kwan is a name to watch for Cincinnati.
Kwan’s skill set is a perfect match for what the Reds need—an elite contact hitter to stabilize the top of the lineup.
With their pitching rotation in good shape and Hunter Greene nearing a return from injury, hitting remains the main area that needs a boost.
Steven Kwan
Kwan is having a strong season, batting .292 with a .350 on-base percentage and a .408 slugging percentage.
He’s also hit six home runs, driven in 29 runs, scored 39, swiped 11 bases, and posted a nearly 1:1 walk-to-strikeout ratio (30 BB, 33 K) over 88 games.
Defensively, he’s one of the most consistent and reliable outfielders in the game.
The biggest obstacle in trading for Kwan is his value. He’s still under team control for two more seasons after 2025, making him both a rare asset and an expensive one.
Cleveland would be reluctant to part with an All-Star-level player on a team-friendly deal.
Steven Kwan
What Would It Cost the Reds?
The price? A steep one. To land Kwan, Cincinnati would have to dip into its farm system and be willing to part with top-tier prospects.
Here’s a hypothetical deal that could get it done:
Guardians receive:
• Steven Kwan
Reds receive:
• RHP Chase Petty (No. 5 prospect)
• SS Edwin Arroyo (No. 7 prospect)
• RHP Zach Maxwell (No. 23 prospect)
Chase Petty, once a top pitching prospect, has made his MLB debut this season but struggled in limited action, giving up 14 hits and eight walks over just six innings.
While he’s not quite big-league ready, the potential is clear—and with the Reds’ deep rotation, they can afford to part with him.
Edwin Arroyo, currently in Double-A, is another talented young player. He’s hitting .278 with a .688 OPS and profiles as a high-contact shortstop with base-stealing ability.
Steven Kwan
While this isn’t his best year statistically, he’s holding his own at a higher level of competition.
Given the Reds’ depth at shortstop, Arroyo is a moveable piece.
Zach Maxwell, a towering right-hander with a fastball that reaches 103 mph, is currently in Triple-A.
Though he hasn’t made his big-league debut, he could immediately bolster Cleveland’s bullpen—especially if the Guardians move on from closer Emmanuel Clase.
While command remains a work in progress, Maxwell’s size and strikeout potential are hard to ignore.
If the Reds want to solidify their playoff run, this is the kind of bold move that could get them there—even if it means paying a premium.
