Less than a month after acquiring Gage Workman in a crosstown trade, the White Sox have designated the 25-year-old infielder for assignment.
Workman was reinstated from the 10-day injured list on Monday and promptly DFA’d by the club.
Workman started the season with the Cubs as a Rule 5 pick from the Tigers. He turned heads in Spring Training after slashing .364/.420/.705 with four homers and 15 RBIs. But Workman failed to replicate that success during his brief stint with the Cubs, going 3-for-14 with a pair of RBIs before getting let go after nine games. He also struggled defensively at third base, committing two errors in four starts at the hot corner.
The White Sox decided to take a flier on him and acquired him for cash considerations. He played in just three games for the South Siders, going 0-for-2 in his only plate appearances for the club before being placed on the 10-day IL with a right hip flexor strain.
Workman is a versatile athlete with left-handed power. While his primary position is at third base, he can provide some defensive flexibility off the bench, which could make him an attractive trade chip for other teams. However, if the White Sox can’t find a trade partner in the next five days, Workman will likely be placed on waivers.
Since he is a Rule-5 pick, the White Sox are not able to option him to Triple-A Charlotte. If he clears waivers, he will be offered back to the Tigers at a discounted rate. If the Tigers bring him back into the organization, they would not have to place him on their 40-man roster.
The White Sox also announced that infielder Nick Maton was outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte, with Austin Slater set to begin a rehab assignment for the Charlotte Knights on Tuesday, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.
Maton has appeared in 25 games for the White Sox this season, hitting .167 with two home runs and four RBIs in 63 plate appearances.
