The Cubs designated Workman for assignment Wednesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Workman had some defensive lapses and went just 3-for-14 at the plate in nine games for the Cubs this season. The Rule 5 pick will be available via trade or a waiver claim, but if no other teams are willing to dedicate an active roster spot to him, he must be offered back to the Tigers for $50,000.
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Cubs' Gage Workman: Collects MLB firsts in rout
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Workman went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI in Saturday's 16-0 win over the Dodgers. He also stole a base.
Workman didn't enter the contest until the sixth inning, but he still managed to rattle off two hits, which were his first at the MLB level. The 25-year-old also recorded his first MLB stolen base and RBI. Workman isn't seeing consistent playing time as a utility option for the Cubs, so he's mostly off the fantasy radar for now, but an injury to a Chicago starter could give him an opportunity to better showcase his abilities.
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Cubs' Gage Workman: Getting second start of season
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Workman will start at third base and will bat ninth in Monday's game against the Rangers.
With Matt Shaw getting a day off, Workman will enter the lineup for just the second time in 13 games this season. A Rule 5 selection, Workman would have to be offered back to the Tigers if the Cubs aren't willing to keep him on the big-league roster all season. The Cubs remain intrigued by his long-term upside, but Workman is unlikely to see many opportunities in the infield unless one or two of Shaw, Nico Hoerner or Dansby Swanson misses extended time.
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Cubs' Gage Workman: May stick around
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Workman could stay on the MLB roster once Nico Hoerner (forearm) returns, with Vidal Brujan losing his spot instead, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Workman made Chicago's roster for its two-game set in Tokyo last week, and the Rule 5 draft may be the favorite to stick around once Hoerner is back, which could be in time for the domestic opener later this week or soon after. In that scenario, Brujan would be designated for assignment, as he is out of minor-league options. If the Cubs prefer to keep Brujan and dump Workman, the latter would have to be returned to Detroit.
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Cubs' Gage Workman: Headed to Tokyo with big club
Rotowire
Workman will travel with the Cubs for their two-game series against the Dodgers in Tokyo on March 18 and 19, Jesse Friedman of MLB.com reports.
With Nico Hoerner (forearm) not making the trip, Chicago is filling out its infield depth to start the regular season with Workman and Vidal Brujan, along with veteran utility player Jon Berti. Hoerner's eventual return will complicate things, but with Workman joining the Cubs as a Rule 5 pick, he may end up sticking around in an MLB bench role unless the team is willing to lose him. The 25-year-old impressed during spring training with a 1.201 OPS, three home runs and 13 RBI across 15 games.
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Cubs' Gage Workman: Could make team out of camp
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Workman, who was selected in the Rule 5 draft back in December, could make the Opening Day roster in a bench infielder role, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Workman, whom the Cubs poached from Detroit, has never appeared above the Double-A level, but the Cubs have to keep the Rule 5 pick in the majors all season if they want to retain him. While many Rule 5 picks get returned to their original team before Opening Day, it sounds like Workman's got a real shot to break camp with the Cubs. If Nico Hoerner (elbow) isn't tracking towards being ready for the start of the season, that would give Workman an even better chance of making the team.
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Cubs' Gage Workman: Selected in Rule 5 draft
Rotowire
The Cubs selected Workman with the 10th pick in the Rule 5 draft Wednesday, JJ Cooper of Baseball America reports.
This is the portion of the draft where players selected are somewhat likely to be returned to their original team rather than stashed in the majors all season, and that may end up being the case with Workman. He is a good defender at third base and can handle second base and shortstop as well. Workman slashed .280/.366/.476 with 18 home runs, 30 steals and a 27.5 percent strikeout rate in 126 games at Double-A, but it's worth noting that Workman had logged 183 games at Double-A prior to 2024. He's heading into his age-25 season and has zero experience above Double-A, so he'll likely play sparingly for as long as the Cubs stash him in the majors.
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Tigers' Gage Workman: Moves up to High-A
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The Tigers promoted Workman from Low-A Lakeland to High-A West Michigan on Tuesday, Emily Waldon of The Athletic reports.
Workman will swap affiliates with fellow middle-infield prospect Trei Cruz, who was demoted from West Michigan to Lakeland in a corresponding move. A 2020 fourth-round pick, Workman earned a promotion to High-A after slashing .256/.357/.426 with 23 extra-base hits (16 doubles, four triples and three home runs) while going 22-for-25 on stolen-base attempts.
