Tigers hint at eyeing top prospect as Jace Jung replacement after position shift

The Tigers have had a third base problem for years, and former first-round pick Jace Jung doesn't seem like a solution. Although the Tigers love their prospects and homegrown guys, they've never seemed fully convinced by Jung, who was demoted back to Triple-A in mid-May after batting .111 with a .356 OPS following his late-April call-up.

In the meantime, the Tigers also optioned Andy Ibáñez and have given Colt Keith a few starts at the hot corner along with Zach McKinstry and Javy Báez. There are external options the Tigers could explore at the trade deadline, including a fan-favorite idea that would reunite Eugenio Suárez with his old squad, but they might be eyeing a top prospect to develop into a long-term third baseman instead.

No. 21 prospect Max Anderson is a second baseman currently in Double-A Erie. He was drafted in the same year as Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle — Detroit's Nos. 1 and 2 prospects this season — and has been outshined accordingly. But as the oldest of the three, he's been faster to rise through the minors.

Over the weekend, Anderson was spotted completing drills at third base instead of his usual home at second. Could the Tigers be eyeing an accelerated path to the majors for him?

Tigers top-30 prospect Max Anderson spotted taking drills at third base

Anderson has also been named a potential trade chip for the Tigers at the deadline, but they could hang onto him if he actually does move over to third and looks promising enough there.

He was promoted to Double-A in late September last season and got off to a slow start, but he's batting .343 with a .974 OPS in 58 games this year, which makes it looks like he's primed to be bumped up to Triple-A. The Tigers shouldn't rush him, as the current third base carousel has been holding it together well enough, but a late-season call-up like the one Jung and Sweeney got last year might not be out of the question.

Trade candidates like Suárez would be far less risky options through the rest of this season, but Suárez is a free agent at the end of the year, so the Tigers also need to keep looking down the road. Anderson isn't rated incredibly well for his defense at second base as it is, so there's no telling how he might translate to third. But if he shapes up, he'd instantly become a more attractive option for the Tigers front office, which is always looking to save a few bucks.