DETROIT — Gage Workman won’t be returning to the Detroit Tigers organization.
At least not yet.
The former Tigers farmhand was traded by the Chicago Cubs across town to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
To create roster space for Workman, former Tigers infielder Nick Maton was designated for assignment by the White Sox.
The Cubs selected Workman from the Tigers last December in the Rule 5 Draft, which allows teams to poach unprotected players from other organizations.
Workman remains subject to the same Rule 5 rules with his new team: the White Sox must keep him on the active roster all season or offer him back to the Tigers.
Workman, 25, was selected by the Tigers in the fourth round of the COVID-shortened 2020 draft out of Arizona State, where he was teammates with No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson.
He spent nearly three full seasons with Double-A Erie but was never promoted to Triple-A by the Tigers. He’s coming off a strong season in which he posted an .843 OPS with 18 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 556 plate appearances.
A left-handed hitter, Workman is primarily a shortstop and third baseman but has played all over the field. The Cubs envisioned him as a super-utility player, and it appears he’ll fill a similar role with the White Sox.
Workman was one of two players the Tigers lost in last December’s draft. Catcher Liam Hicks, the other, remains with the Miami Marlins and recently recorded a four-hit game against Philadelphia.
The Tigers acquired Maton from the Phillies on Jan. 7, 2023, along with infielder/outfielder Matt Vierling and catcher Donny Sands in exchange for reliever Gregory Soto and infielder Kody Clemens.
Maton, 28, opened the 2023 season as the Tigers’ regular third baseman. But he struggled offensively and defensively and was demoted to Triple-A Toledo in June. He later returned to the club but never regained an everyday role.
The Tigers placed him on waivers one week before the start of spring training in 2024 and then traded him to the Orioles for cash considerations.
He had three separate stints with the Orioles in 2024 but appeared in only five games, going 0-for-5.
After becoming a free agent, Maton signed a minor-league deal with Chicago in December and made the Opening Day roster out of spring training.
Maton hit .173 with a .622 OPS (83 OPS+) in 61 plate appearances with the White Sox before being designated for assignment.
Maton is out of options and has been previously outrighted, so he will have the right to elect free agency if he passes through waivers unclaimed.
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