3 prospects Cubs should target in Kris Bryant trade talks

1. Kyle Muller or Tucker Davidson

The Braves were dealt one of the biggest blows in the majors recently when they lost All-Star Ronald Acuńa Jr. to a season-ending ACL tear. They’re down, but not out.

Atlanta (44-45) sits four games behind the first-place Mets and seven games out of a Wild Card spot. Whether or not the Braves will go into the deadline as buyers remains to be seen, but they should consider adding as long as they remain around this spot in the next few weeks.

Bryant would give the Braves a much-needed outfield boost, and he might not cost them a top-tier prospect depending on if they pay the majority of his contract. There’s been talks of Chicago actually holding onto Bryant and other core pieces for the sake of keeping a compensation pick rather than selling low.

Atlanta currently has three left-handed pitchers in ranked Top-10 in their farm system, two of which already have MLB experience.

Among those names who has already made his big-league debut this season is 23-year-old Kyle Muller. In four MLB appearances (three starts), Muller has posted a 3.45 ERA, 1.085 WHIP and 11.5 K/9 rate in 15.2 innings pitched. The 6-foot 7-inch lefty is a hard-thrower who can reach triple digits and has a four-pitch mix, which projections him as a future starter.

Another Atlanta lefty who has already made his big-league debut is 25-year-old Tucker Davidson. In four MLB starts this season, Davidson owns a 3.60 ERA, 1.150 WHIP and 8.1 K/9 rate in 20 innings. He’s thought to be a work in progress in terms of command, but he features a three-pitch mix, including a fastball which reaches as high as 97 MPH.

Either would be an ideal return candidate for the Cubs should they trade Bryant, but as mentioned, it all depends just how much extra cash they throw in along with how much of a risk the Braves are willing to take this season.