Normally, Christmas is a day of inaction for the baseball world. Players relax, front offices take a step back, and fans enjoy a rare quiet moment in a sport where the season can stretch six months or more, and the offseason can feel like an endless carousel of trades, rumors, and negotiations. Almost everyone, that is.
This Christmas, the Athletics disrupted the peace. Outfielder Tyler Soderstrom agreed to a seven-year, $86 million extension, the largest in franchise history, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal, with escalators that could push the total to $131 million, is sending ripples far beyond Oakland, potentially reshaping the American League landscape.
On a micro level, the move signals that the Athletics intend to compete in the coming seasons, despite playing their home games in a minor league ballpark. On a macro level, the extension could influence the Guardians’ approach to a key offseason priority: signing All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan to a long-term deal. With Soderstrom’s pact setting a recent precedent, Cleveland’s front office now has a concrete benchmark for structuring a competitive, team-friendly offer.
Soderstrom’s rise has been meteoric. After modest results in 106 games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he exploded in 2025, posting a .276/.346/.474 slash line with 25 home runs and 93 RBIs in 158 games. He also earned a Gold Glove finalist nod in his first season in left field, despite a rocky midseason visit to Cleveland. His performance demonstrates both offensive and defensive upside, and the Athletics clearly believe he can be a cornerstone for years to come.
For the Guardians, Soderstrom’s deal provides a blueprint. Kwan has expressed a desire to remain in Cleveland long-term but has also shown comfort navigating arbitration and betting on himself in free agency. While Roman Anthony’s midseason extension suggested the Guardians might be constrained in offering market-value contracts, Soderstrom’s record-setting deal provides hope that a Kwan extension could be feasible.
Yet there are hurdles. Historically, the Guardians have been conservative spenders. Outside of Jose Ramirez’s team-friendly seven-year, $141 million extension, the largest contract in franchise history is Edwin Encarnación’s three-year, $60 million free-agent deal. Kwan, coming off a season slightly below league-average by OPS+ but still earning his second All-Star nod and fourth consecutive Gold Glove, will likely demand more than Cleveland has historically spent.
Kwan’s value, however, isn’t just statistical. He’s become a clubhouse leader, a fan favorite, and a central figure in the Guardians’ lineup. The team entertained trade offers at both the deadline and Winter Meetings but ultimately opted to retain him, signaling his importance. The question now is whether both sides can find a midpoint where the contract meets Kwan’s value without straining the organization’s budget.
As Paul Hoynes noted recently on the Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast, the only barrier to a Kwan extension appears to be aligning expectations. Soderstrom’s contract could provide a framework for negotiations, offering both a team-friendly structure and precedent for what elite young outfielders can command in today’s market.
In short, Tyler Soderstrom’s record-breaking deal isn’t just an Oakland story—it’s a signal to the entire AL, and particularly to Cleveland. The Guardians now have a reference point to build around Kwan, a roadmap that could keep one of their most talented players in town for years. The offseason is far from over, and if history and precedent hold, the next headline could very well be Cleveland locking up Kwan with a deal that excites fans and alters the balance of power in the American League.
For Guardians fans, the question remains: will Steven Kwan follow in Soderstrom’s footsteps and commit long-term, or will negotiations drag into uncertainty? One thing is certain—the stage is set for a blockbuster offseason storyline, and every move will be scrutinized.
Leave a Reply