Expect competition between 2 Tigers infield prospects for Andy Ibáñez's vacated role

The Tigers' unsurprising but still brutal decision to non-tender Andy Ibáñez — who kept the Tigers' miracle 2024 rolling with a game winning, bases-clearing double against Josh Hader in Game 2 of the Wild Card — at the November deadline left a small but pivotal role vacated. Ibáñez was let go because he no longer did the one thing that he was supposed to be best at: mash against lefties.

Jahmai Jones had a great half-season or so with the Tigers after coming up to replace Ibáñez, who was demoted to Triple-A in June. He hit .288 with a .970 OPS against lefties, mostly as a pinch-hitter. He was just as clutch as Ibáñez failed to be.

But the Tigers might not see a 2026 in which Jones has a more elevated role, given his less-than-stellar outfield defense and inability to be as flexible as Ibáñez was around the diamond. Instead, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, they're eyeing two infield prospects.

Max Anderson and Hao-Yu Lee's names have been in the Tigers' third base conversation for some time now — Lee was even added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft — but neither debuted in 2025. They're expected to get long looks in spring training and could even beat Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark to the majors.

Max Anderson, Hao-Yu Lee are the leading prospect contenders to be on Tigers' 2026 Opening Day roster

Anderson and Lee both finished their 2025 seasons in Triple-A Toledo, and Anderson got some extra playing time in the Arizona Fall League, where he arguably outshined AFL MVP and No. 1 prospect Kevin McGonigle. Anderson hit a massive .341 with a 1.017 OPS against lefties between Double- and Triple-A; Lee (who also holds the honor being the product of the first trade Scott Harris made as the Tigers' president of baseball operations) hit .299 with a .918 OPS against lefties in a full season there.

Petzold added that Lee "is viewed as more likely to develop into an everyday player," and already having a spot on the 40-man might make him the favorite to win one on the 26-man come Opening Day.

If the Tigers aren't going to add anyone to the lineup via trade or free agency this offseason — and it certainly looks like they aren't — we still have prospects to get excited about. Anderson and Lee have both shown enormous potential, and we still can't entirely rule out McGonigle forcing the issue and winning a spot for himself too.