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Tigers top prospect who was trade deadline bait is forcing roster issue for 2026

It's a good farm system.
ByEmma Lingan|
Erie SeaWolves second baseman Max Anderson throws out a Chesapeake Baysox batter during an Eastern League baseball game at UPMC Park in Erie on June 17, 2025.
Erie SeaWolves second baseman Max Anderson throws out a Chesapeake Baysox batter during an Eastern League baseball game at UPMC Park in Erie on June 17, 2025. | GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With the Detroit Tigers expected to be clear buyers at the 2025 MLB trade deadline, several reports and rumors indicated that infielder Max Anderson was one of the team's most likely prospects to be traded.

Detroit's No. 9 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Anderson would indeed have been a logical trade chip due to his quality bat and the Tigers' infield logjam. He was a valuable, yet expandable asset – one who could theoretically headline a package to net Detroit a Major League roster player (perhaps a bullpen arm or an upgrade at another area of need) in return.

Despite the buzz, however, the Tigers held on to Anderson at the deadline. President of baseball operations Scott Harris emphasized that the team avoided any deals that could hurt their long-term future and that they were unwilling to part with high-upside talent just for short-term gains.

Tigers prospect widely expected to be traded at 2025 deadline is proving his worth in Triple-A

Harris' decision to hold onto the Tigers' top prospects at the deadline drew some criticism from fans. But in the month since then, Anderson has done everything and more to prove that the Tigers made the right decision in keeping him as part of their promising young core.

Anderson earned an August promotion to Triple-A Toledo after starting the season with a .306/.358/.499 line with 14 home runs through 90 games at Double-A Erie. Before he was promoted, he ranked first in Double-A in hits (41), total bases (184) and slugging percentage (.499), second in average (.306) and third in OPS (.857).

Anderson's bat hasn't cooled off since his arrival in Toledo, as he's hitting .290/.343/.500 through 14 games at Triple-A. He has also gone yard three times since his promotion to give him 17 homers on the season, shattering his career high of 11 in 2024.

If Anderson continues to hit his way through the Tigers' system, don't be surprised to see him in Detroit at some point in 2026. The Tigers may have a lot of infield depth already – but for a bat like Anderson's, they'll make room.

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