Steven Kwan Appreciation Thread

[Criznit]

I love Kwan. But someday he will be too expensive for us.
That's just the way it is.

Just having some fun.

 

[zDawg45]

Cant we just appreciate him for at least 2 or 3 years before you guys start this trading stuff. geez

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Kwan was the sparkplug of last years team. Obviously, I don't want him traded.
However, a number of players have gotten a contract extension as rookies,
Louis Robert
Eloy Jimenez
Evan Longoria
Salvy Perez
Wander Franco
Fenando Tatis Jr. (Hell, he's signed for 14 years.)

If Kwan's 23 season is anywhere near his 22 season - get the checkbook.

 

[Alabuckeye]

And a number of Braves got extended as rookies. harris and Grissom iirc

 

[CATS44]

IMO Kwan is a 'safe' candidate for an early extension.

His numbers were not out of line with his production in the minors. He showed the ability to adjust quickly to MLB pitchers adjustments.

Eye-hand coordination is not a skill that tends to fall off, and thats his biggest plus. He is extremely athletic.

There is lots of room for major production increase...really. There have been little guys with high end contact skills...and notably high baseball intelligence...who have significantly increased their power production. IMO its not a maybe. I expect that Kwan will become a 6 WAR player.

Lastly, a little thing that I think is major...

In the middle of the season, the org went to Kwan, a rookie, for advice. Even as a rookie, the org views him in a not so future leadership role.

 

[bob2the2nd]

IMO Kwan is a 'safe' candidate for an early extension.

His numbers were not out of line with his production in the minors. He showed the ability to adjust quickly to MLB pitchers adjustments.

Eye-hand coordination is not a skill that tends to fall off, and thats his biggest plus. He is extremely athletic.

There is lots of room for major production increase...really. There have been little guys with high end contact skills...and notably high baseball intelligence...who have significantly increased their power production. IMO its not a maybe. I expect that Kwan will become a 6 WAR player.

Lastly, a little thing that I think is major...

In the middle of the season, the org went to Kwan, a rookie, for advice. Even as a rookie, the org views him in a not so future leadership role.

I have no doubt the Gs are goign to explore a contract extension with Kwan, but I imagine it will be next off season at the very earliest and probably the off season after that before anything happens.

Kwan still has another 5 years before he is a FA. There is absolutely no rush to get him to sign an extension.

 

[macbdog]

And a number of Braves got extended as rookies. harris and Grissom iirc

IMO you only extend true studs. Fact is, you end up with one Jon Singleton and you kind of negate the savings from other extensions. Kwan is a nice player, and we can hope he remains Tony Gwynn Lite, but the team is better off waiting and seeing with him. Truth is, he should be replaceable moving forward when he starts to cost money.

 

[PocketMonger]

Kwan would be wise to take an early extension since he's a fairly speed dependent player who will be 30 years old by the end of his rookie deal. That said this can wait until next winter at the soonest. Its probably in everybody's best interest to wait one or two more years before inking a new deal.

 

[CATS44]

Every year you wait, the cost goes up...in three ways.

First, every year that Kwan produces at a level at least equal to 2022 drives his personal value (financially) up.

Second, every year shortens his waiting period until free agency, which lowers his risk factor for injury...which adds to his leverage in negotiations.

Third, inflation. Every year the financial cost of players goes up.

Benintendi is getting $25 mil. Joc Pederson is getting nearly $20 mil. A few years back, with the same platform years, they would have gotten half as much. Neither, esp Pederson, is Kwan.

 

[CATS44]

If the FO locks up both Kwan and Gimenez, they may have, along with Jose, the three best position players in the division over the next several years.

The only real threats to that are Robert, Jimenez, and Buxton...none of which can stay healthy.

Its possible that those three could combine for 17/18 fWAR per season...and under control...for the foreseeable future.

Not too many teams with payrolls under the tax line have that.

 

[CDAV45]

Every year you wait, the cost goes up...in three ways.

First, every year that Kwan produces at a level at least equal to 2022 drives his personal value (financially) up.

Second, every year shortens his waiting period until free agency, which lowers his risk factor for injury...which adds to his leverage in negotiations.

Third, inflation. Every year the financial cost of players goes up.

Benintendi is getting $25 mil. Joc Pederson is getting nearly $20 mil. A few years back, with the same platform years, they would have gotten half as much. Neither, esp Pederson, is Kwan.

I mostly agree with you here CATS. The only difference being that I would wait until after the 23 season even if it means a bit more money needed to extend him. I'm pretty conservative so I'd like to get another year of him to build my confidence in the investment.

I don't agree with macbdog's assessment of Kwan being Tony Gwynn lite. I think he's pretty much a spitting image of Tony except that Kwan is better defensively.

I don't see a whole lot of projection with Kwan and I'm fine with that. I think what he is now is what he'll continue to be which is one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball. If he ever surpasses 10-12 HR I'll be surprised. Should that happen I hope he doesn't sell himself out to get there. I'm also hoping that Brennan continues to be similar even if not quite as good as Kwan. Will is someone that I can see developing more power so we'll see. I hope he doesn't change his approach in order to do so either.

I'm all for locking up Kwan and Gimenez, but I'd like to see one more season before they do. That's probably me being overly cautious though. Those 2 with JRam is a helluva core for sure. I'm all for extending TMac as well. He's really becoming what we all hoped he would. I'm a big fan of that kid.

 

[CDAV45]

Kwan would be wise to take an early extension since he's a fairly speed dependent player who will be 30 years old by the end of his rookie deal. That said this can wait until next winter at the soonest. Its probably in everybody's best interest to wait one or two more years before inking a new deal.

So what's the worst case scenario here, he becomes an average defensive LFer who still hits as well or better than he ever did? I'll take that.

 

[PocketMonger]

So what's the worst case scenario here, he becomes an average defensive LFer who still hits as well or better than he ever did? I'll take that.

Kwan really proved me wrong. Even if he hit for average he still seemed like a 9th hitter type with no power but he showed 10-15HR power in the second half. If his second half power is for real he’s a very nice all around player.

Plus he would fall into that sweet spot of being a good player but not too good to the point where he’s destined to depart in free agency.

 

[CDAV45]

Kwan really proved me wrong. Even if he hit for average he still seemed like a 9th hitter type with no power but he showed 10-15HR power in the second half. If his second half power is for real he’s a very nice all around player.

Plus he would fall into that sweet spot of being a good player but not too good to the point where he’s destined to depart in free agency.

I don't think he proved most of us wrong. However, I do think he took a lot of us by surprise. He's a fantastic leadoff hitter. If he develops more power that's great as long as he doesn't change his approach. If he doesn't I won't think any less of him.

Knowing that Kwan's offensive profile is more that of a CFer, I would like to get a bit more power in CF to offset that if possible. I like a balanced line up. I think we're about there with doing that. We've added Bell. We've replaced Hedges and Maile with Bo and Zunino. We'll have OGon for an entire season. Naylor's leg should be less of an issue and I expect him to make a substantial offensive gain. We have JRam and Gimenez. I'd like to improve the offensive output from CF and whichever MIF spot Gimenez isn't playing. Both of those could have in house solutions.

 

[sportscoach]

I don't think he proved most of us wrong. However, I do think he took a lot of us by surprise. He's a fantastic leadoff hitter. If he develops more power that's great as long as he doesn't change his approach. If he doesn't I won't think any less of him.

Knowing that Kwan's offensive profile is more that of a CFer, I would like to get a bit more power in CF to offset that if possible. I like a balanced line up. I think we're about there with doing that. We've added Bell. We've replaced Hedges and Maile with Bo and Zunino. We'll have OGon for an entire season. Naylor's leg should be less of an issue and I expect him to make a substantial offensive gain. We have JRam and Gimenez. I'd like to improve the offensive output from CF and whichever MIF spot Gimenez isn't playing. Both of those could have in house solutions.

He didn't take me by surprised... the 22 OOTP game actually had him competing for a Batting title... In real life though, there is no way you could have expected what he actually did and the second half the the season, he really got stronger and more confident as well...