Welcome to Tigers Tidbits, a hodgepodge of newsworthy Detroit baseball notes as we sit roughly two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Lakeland. This week’s roundup includes another strong showing for the Tigers on a national Top 100 prospect list, along with fresh insight from Jon Heyman regarding Detroit’s pitching priorities and ongoing — but very controlled — conversations surrounding Tarik Skubal.
Four Tigers Land on ESPN’s Top 100
Detroit’s improving farm system continues to gain national recognition, as four Tigers prospects were named to ESPN’s latest Top 100 list. The volume alone reinforces what has become increasingly clear over the past two seasons: this is the deepest, most balanced pipeline the organization has had in decades.
Per Kiley McDaniel of ESPN, the Tigers placed four prospects on his Top 100 list, Kevin McGonigle (No. 2), Max Clark (No. 8), Bryce Rainer (No. 35), and Josue Briceño (No. 44)
McGonigle had the highest ranked hitting tool at 70 and all four have been staples on the other lists that have been out over the last two weeks.
Jon Heyman: Giolito Tops Detroit’s Pitching Board
During his live stream on Tuesday, Jon Heyman shared several notable Tigers-related updates, starting with free agency.
According to Heyman, right-hander Lucas Giolito is his “number one choice” for Detroit among remaining starters. The fit makes sense. Giolito offers rotation stability, familiarity with the AL Central, and upside if Detroit believes its pitching infrastructure can help him rebound after an uneven 2024 campaign.
With depth still a concern behind Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson, and the club’s young arms, Detroit appears focused on adding a veteran starter rather than chasing volume.
Skubal: Firm Stance, No Discounts
Heyman also addressed the growing trade speculation around Tarik Skubal, and his reporting aligns closely with what Detroit’s actions suggest.
The Tigers are “telling people they won’t settle” ahead of Skubal’s arbitration hearing, signaling confidence in both his value and their leverage. In trade conversations, Detroit is also “not naming the price”, forcing interested teams to show their hand first.
While offers are being made, Heyman indicated that clubs are not coming close to what the Tigers would require to seriously engage.
From the Mets’ perspective, Heyman noted the impression that a Skubal deal would start at “Nolan McLean plus”, a threshold that underscores just how high Detroit’s internal valuation remains.
Most notably, Heyman stated he does not believe the Tigers will trade Skubal, a sentiment that fits the organization’s broader posture. Detroit appears far more willing to listen than to act — a key distinction.
For now, the next big Skubal news that will drop is how he much he will earn in arbitration when the hearing takes place.
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