MLB's updated top 100 prospects list makes Tigers offseason plans clear

MLB Pipeline dropped their midseason(ish) re-ranks on Monday and, to no one's surprise, the Tigers are well represented. The Mariners have the most prospects on the list by far (nine) and may soon hold the crown for the best farm system in baseball, but the Tigers are one of just two teams with two prospects in the top 10. The Pirates' Konnor Griffin and Bubba Chandler stand at Nos. 1 and 7 respectively, while the Tigers have Nos. 2 and 9 in Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark.

Clark maintains his place at No. 9, but McGonigle is the biggest riser in the top 10, jumping up from No. 5. Josue Briceño leapt from 50 to 32, Bryce Rainer dropped from 33 to 35 (but he underwent a season-ending shoulder surgery this year), and Thayron Liranzo fell off of the list.

McGonigle, Clark, and Briceño were all promoted to Double-A last month, and then they featured in the All-Star Futures Game a few weeks later. FanDuel Sports Network Detroit is airing four Double-A Erie games this month as hype continues to grow for Detroit's Big Three.

The Tigers could plausibly make room on the major league roster for all three next season. They've been largely viewed as untouchable in trade conversations and will stay that way. But what about everyone else?

Four Tigers prospects feature in MLB Pipeline's updated top 100 this season

There's a clear wrinkle in the Tigers' strategy of hoarding prospects when you have such a young major league team — the prospects are going to be MLB-ready before the major leaguers are even close to free agency. Teams can always use more pitching, but first base (Spencer Torkelson), second base (Colt Keith, after Gleyber Torres leaves), at least one out of two catching roles (Dillon Dingler), and left field (Riley Greene) are going to be locked down for the foreseeable future.

So what do the Tigers do with guys like Hao-Yu Lee and Max Anderson, two second/third basemen who are both in Triple-A and in the Tigers' top-10? Trade them.

The Tigers could call up Lee in September to get some reps at third base, if they still have little faith in Jace Jung (who also should probably be traded this offseason), but Anderson was frequently named as a potential trade candidate at this year's deadline. Players (especially middle infielders) further down the pipeline like Franyerber Montilla (No. 13) and Jude Warick (No. 23) would be best employed as trade pieces, especially because the Tigers are going to need more pitching this offseason.

Tigers fans can't wait to see McGonigle, Clark, and Briceño get to the majors maybe as early as Opening Day 2026, but almost everyone else could be dealt to shore up next year's roster and ensure another winning season (and hopefully World Series run).