Chicago Cubs: 3 under-the-radar Kris Bryant trades to explore

The Chicago Cubs could trade Kris Bryant to the Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners are currently in the ultra-competitive AL West, sitting in third place behind the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics. Though they are 6.0 games out of first place, the Mariners happen to be just 2.5 games back of a Wild Card spot. Should they add some key pieces before the deadline, Seattle could make a push.

The Mariners are yet another team who need some help in the outfield, and MLB.com’s Mark Fiensand believes it’s their top priority before the deadline. Again, Bryant can help here. If Seattle went after Bryant, maybe a return could look like this.

The Cubs would again land a team’s top-10 prospect, this time it being right-hander Juan Then. Since moving to A+ ball and playing for Everett, Then has struggled a bit. He has an ERA of 6.25 and has appeared in nine games, pitching 36.0 innings thus far.

Then is averaging almost a strikeout per inning pitched, but he’s also walked 16 batters this year. Control is something to work on, but his debut probably won’t come until next season. So, he’s got some time.

Along with Then, the Cubs would get third baseman Milkar Perez, the Mariners’ no. 14 prospect. Chicago would then get Seattle’s no. 18 prospect in outfielder Jonatan Clase. Both of these guys won’t be due up until 2024, so Chicago would be primarily focused on the future with this type of trade.