Collecting Rule 5: White Sox acquire SS Gage Workman from Cubs

If you fill your roster with players you can’t demote, at least you’re forced to put them on the IL faster when they’re hurt!

Chris Getz seems to have found a curious crack in the baseball industry: Collecting Rule 5 players drafted by other teams and then dropped.

The GM made his second such move this year (Mike Vasil was a Tampa Bay Rule 5 pick from the Mets last winter), snagging Cubs infielder Gage Workman for cash considerations. Yes, to form, the Cubs had selected Workman in the Rule 5 draft from the Tigers in December.

WHOA DON’T THE WHITE SOX ONLY TRADE FOR CASH CONSIDERATIONS NOT TRADE CASH AWAY JERRY ARE YOU AWAKE?

Anyhow, whether Workman is a major-leaguer on the rise remains to be seen. He replaces Nick Maton, the 28-year-old utilityman who was designated for assignment in this latest roster shuffle.

Workman, 25, made his MLB debut this year with the Cubs and has appeared in nine games this season, hitting .214 with a double and two RBIs. The 6´4´´, 200-pounder has yet to play in Triple-A, jumping to the majors from Double-A; last year in Detroit’s system, playing for Double-A Erie, Workman slashed .280/.366/.476 with 29 doubles, six triples, 18 home runs and 89 RBIs in 126 games and was named an Eastern League All-Star.

He’s a primary shortstop, but has seen substantial time at third base. Jacob Amaya and Miguel Vargas could see their collars tightening over the Workman acquisition.

Wanna hear something funny about why Workman was cut from the Cubs in the first place? They re-signed Nicky Lopez to a major league contract!

Workman was Detroit’s second round pick in the truncated 2020 draft.

Maton appeared in 23 games with the White Sox this season, batting .173 with two doubles, two home runs and four RBIs.

The White Sox 40-man roster remains at 40.