Tigers' Silver Slugger finalists reinforce new three-headed dragon Detroit has to build around

Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger award finalists were presented by FanSided on Thursday, and Detroit Tigers fans weren't surprised as to how the Tigers were represented.

Dillon Dingler is an American League finalist at catcher alongside the Kansas City Royals' Carter Jensen; Riley Greene is in the outfield along with Wilyer Abreu, Randy Arozarena, Cody Bellinger, Jac Caglianone, Chase DeLauter, Tristan Peters, Chandler Simpson, and Mike Trout; and Kevin McGonigle at both shortstop and utility along with Bobby Witt Jr, Zach Neto (shortstops), Sam Antonacci and Ezequiel Duran (utility).

This is the three-headed dragon Greene, Spencer Torkelson, and Kerry Carpenter looked like they could be at one point in Tigers history, but Torkelson is a conundrum and Carpenter has been rendered little more than a platoon bat at this point.

Greene is, hands down, the best Tigers draft pick of the 2010s. Kevin McGonigle is already the best of the 2020s. As a late bloomer, Dingler is a testament to patience and Detroit's player development.

McGonigle is already locked up to an eight-year, $150 million contract that starts next season, but perhaps the Dingler-Greene-McGonigle trio is too good to break up.

Dillon Dingler, Riley Greene, Kevin McGonigle are Tigers' representatives among 2026 Silver Slugger finalists

Of course, this is easier said than done. Extending Greene just two years from free agency is tricky, and the best time to do it is probably in the rearview mirror at this point. Dingler won't be a free agent until he's 32, so the Tigers are in no rush to pay him more than they absolutely have to, and they definitely want to see if he can bounce back from his second-half slump.

But Detroit should also put their money where their mouth is. They're not big spenders, but they're also not quite the Milwaukee Brewers or Tampa Bay Rays or Cleveland Guardians, who trade off their best players a year away from free agency instead of paying them to stay.

Scott Harris rarely parts with prospects until he absolutely has to, but if the Tigers truly want to be a team that values homegrown players, they should pay them accordingly.

The Dingler-Greene-McGonigle Silver Slugger finalist trio — and all feel like very good shots to win — should be batting at the top of Detroit's lineup for years to come. There are already five All-Star nods, a Silver Slugger for Greene in 2025, two Gold Gloves, down-ballot MVP votes, and a soon-to-be Rookie of the Year award among them. They should stay in Detroit.

Tune in on Nov. 17 as FanSided reveals the winners.

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