The Cincinnati Reds made a trade deadline move by acquiring Gold Glove third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates — a deal that earned praise from Terry Francona, who’s clearly on board.
“He might be the best defender in the game — or at least close,” Francona told reporter Mike Petraglia. “It’s not always about flashy moves. We’re focused on playing clean, fundamentally sound baseball, and this is a big step toward that.”
Could Francona be hinting at what’s next for the Reds? Given how much he values defense, it’s worth noting that another rumored Reds target — Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan — fits the same mold. Could a blockbuster for Kwan be in the works?
Terry Francona’s reaction to Ke’Bryan Hayes trade hints at possible Reds blockbuster for Steve Kwan
Few players in the majors play a more fundamentally sound game than Steven Kwan. The Guardians All-Star is renowned for his high-contact approach at the plate, impressive speed, and Gold Glove-caliber defense in the outfield. With Cleveland now 9½ games behind the Tigers in the AL Central and three games out of a Wild Card spot, signs are pointing toward the Guardians becoming sellers at the trade deadline.
Acquiring Kwan would be a bold move — and it’s fair to wonder if the Reds are willing to take that kind of swing. Cincinnati has typically played it safe at the deadline, often frustrating their fans by not going all in.
However, with Terry Francona — who knows Kwan well from their time in Cleveland — now leading the Reds, and the team benefiting from key players like Elly De La Cruz and Andrew Abbott still being pre-arbitration, there’s financial flexibility to make a major splash.
Kwan is earning just over \$4 million this season and remains under club control through 2027. This kind of trade could energize the Reds’ fanbase — the only question is whether the front office is bold enough to make it happen.
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