Padres get Gage Workman in trade with Tigers

Workman, who was picked up from the Tigers along with Casey Mize on Monday, appeared in two games for the Padres and had a three-run double in one of his three at-bats.

With Kerry Carpenter returning from the injured list on Sunday, there was no longer room for Workman’s left-handed bat on the Tigers’ bench. The 26-year-old struggled to make consistent contact during his time with the big league club, slashing a woeful .158/.158/.395 with a pair of homers, five RBI and a cringe-inducing 16/0 K/BB ratio in 38 plate appearances.

He added another double in this game, though he was stranded, and now has four extra-base hits in his first four games this year, including two homers. The Tigers batted him fifth today. We don’t recommend a shallow-league preemptive pickup, but deep league managers should definitely circle around to make sure nobody left him on the waiver wire with this hot start.

Pinch-hitting for Zack Short in the sixth, Workman homered off Nick Mears with a man on to make it a 5-3 game. He hit that fly 383 feet and then had an impressive flyout at 106 mph in his second and final at-bat. That one had an xBA of .840. A left-handed hitter, Workman wasn’t going to start against the lefty Noah Cameron tonight, but he was doing well enough in Triple-A (.358/.413/.590) that he really should get a look here with Kerry Carpenter out. He’ll probably start at least a couple of games during the Mets series that begins Tuesday.

Workman spent time in the majors as a Rule 5 pick last year, going 3-for-14 with the Cubs and 0-for-2 with the White Sox, but he ended up being returned to the Tigers in May. He went unpicked in the latest Rule 5 draft over the winter, but now he’s getting another look after hitting .358/.413/.590 with four homers and 12 steals in 150 plate appearances for Toledo. After seeing considerable time in the outfield last year, he’s been strictly an infielder this season, starting 15 games at short, 11 at second and eight at third for Toledo. With Colt Keith likely to spend more time in the DH spot while Kerry Carpenter is out, the Tigers figure to give Workman starts at second and third against righties.

What might be most interesting about this is that the Tigers played Workman in centerfield on Sunday. Workman started the season playing mainly third base for the Cubs and White Sox and was exclusively an infielder in the minor leagues in 2024. He did play eight games in right field in 2023, but with Javier Baez in center field and Parker Meadows on the path to returning, it’s interesting to see the Tigers use Workman in the outfield rather than at third base. Perhaps they are trying to see if they can use him as a super utility player at the big league level.

Workman passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment earlier this week by the White Sox, which meant he was offered back to the Tigers. The 25-year-old infielder was a Rule 5 pick by the Cubs in the offseason before heading to the South Side on a waiver claim. He’ll head to Triple-A Toledo to bolster Detroit’s organizational depth.

It’s the second time the Rule 5 pick has been DFA’d, as the White Sox just got him from the Cubs a couple of weeks ago. Maybe the Rockies will consider him now, since they’re short on infield help and can use all of the talent they can get. If no one steps up to claim him, he’ll head back to the Tigers organization and probably report to Triple-A.

Workman is a Rule 5 pick from the Tigers, so there’s no sending him down. Instead, the White Sox will go this route to get him some minor league at-bats before bringing him back. Workman was 0-for-2 in three appearances since being picked up from the Cubs last week.

Workman won’t have to leave town after all. The 25-year-old rookie was cut loose earlier this week by the Cubs after getting into just nine games during the opening month of the season. He’ll have an opportunity to play a bit more with the rebuilding White Sox, but it’s unlikely to translate into any fantasy relevance.