5 steps the Tigers must take right now to begin another unavoidable rebuild

Whether Detroit Tigers fans want to admit it or not, their competitive window is closing quickly. Thankfully, there are some easy steps Scott Harris can take in the interim to jumpstart the come up. The Tigers have a solid farm system — filled with intriguing talents like Max Clark and Bryce Rainer — but there's a long way to go. Assuming they lose Tarik Skubal, and he will be featured heavily in this article, Harris may have to start from scratch.

But if the Tigers truly hope to tear this down to the studs (and it could be argued they don't need to go that far), they'll have to do more than just trade away Skubal. Harris is in this for the long game, and has frequently said the organization's plan goes beyond one player. He'll have to hold up his end of the bargain a bit sooner than expected.

5 steps the Tigers must take right now to begin another unavoidable rebuild

Sell Tarik Skubal at the MLB trade deadline

As a Tigers fan myself, I love Skubal, but the front office's hands are tied. Skubal will almost certainly leave in free agency. While it was admirable for Harris to build around him for one more run, the 2026 Tigers are a disaster. Their best bet moving forward is to trade Skubal at the deadline assuming he makes a successful return from elbow surgery in a few weeks.

FanSided's Robert Murray spoke to rival general managers about what return the Tigers could expect for Skubal just last week. The consensus was at least one top-100 prospect and another top-10 team prospect. That's not a bad haul for any player on an expiring deal, even a two-time AL Cy Young winner.

Pick a lane with Riley Greene

Greene has arguably been the Tigers best offensive player this season. He's also prone to crushing slumps at the plate, as we saw towards the tail end of 2025 and even into the postseason. Greene is under team control through 2029, so Harris is under no obligation to extend him just yet. The Tigers can go to arbitration war with him just as they did Skubal, admittedly with far less on the line.

But assuming the Tigers are committing to a rebuild of some sort, does Greene fit their long-term plan? He's 25 years old and will be 28 by the time he reaches the final year of control. If the Tigers aren't a very good baseball team the next few years, then Harris has to decide whether Greene is worth extending for the long haul. If not, might as well get what you can for him with a few years left of team control.

Add more starting pitching to the farm system

None of the Tigers' top-8 prospects are pitchers, per MLB Pipeline. That's not a recipe for success long term, which is why FanSided has Detroit going heavy on pitching in their most recent MLB mock draft. At pick 22, the Tigers could select any of Carson Boleman, Brody Bumila or perhaps even Cole Carlon. All three of those arms have high upside, Bumila in particular.

When you factor in a potential trade of Skubal (or other expiring assets), the Tigers should be able to fix this issue on the fly. If they prioritize high-upside starting pitching prospects, then Detroit's farm system could look a whole lot better this time next year.

Trade affordable veteran contracts like Kenley Jansen, Casey Mize

Affordable or expiring veteran contracts are expensive capital at the MLB trade deadline. The Tigers have a few of those players they could send packing in early August, including Kenley Jansen and Casey Mize. Jansen has struggled in Detroit, blowing four saves so far this season. He's also used to being dealt that time of year, and should be an intriguing bullpen add for the right contender, depending on if he's healthy and performing by the deadline.

If Skubal weren't on the table, Mize would be the Tigers best trade asset in 2026. While he's spent some time on the injured list this season and may go back again soon, Mize still has a 2.27 ERA in eight starts. Were it not for Skubal, he'd be Detroit's best starting pitcher. If the Tigers hope to add to their prospect cupboard for a long-term rebuild, trading both Skubal and Mize, a former No. 1 pick himself, is in their best interest.

Promote Max Clark this season

The Tigers top prospect is outfielder Max Clark. He's projected to make his MLB debut in 2026, and has adjusted well to Triple-A pitching in Toledo. Clark has a .733 OPS with the Mud Hens, so he still has plenty of work to do before he gets the call, but there have been some encouraging signs of late.

Clark has some serious tools and can play any outfield position. Outside of Greene, the Tigers have plenty of room to improve in the outfield, including center field and left. Neither Matt Vierling (with his recent blunder fresh in mind) nor Wenceel Pérez have earned a spot. Frankly, the sooner the Tigers can get Clark some playing time, the better. If they do sell at the deadline, expect Clark to star in the outfield shortly thereafter.

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