Cubs Add Intriguing Infielder Through Rule-5 Draft

By: Ethan Diamond

Buried in the chaos of the ongoing Winter Meetings today was the Rule-5 Draft. The Cubs have had some success in the major league portion of the draft in the past, the most notable being Hector Rondon, who was a reliable reliever for the team from 2013-2017. They have not been active in recent years, though, but that changed today.

For the first time since 2020, the Cubs made an addition to their major league roster via the Rule-5 by selecting utility infielder Gage Workman from the Detroit Tigers organization. Workman, a left-handed hitter who primarily played shortstop and third base last year, slashed .280/.366/.476 for the Tigers AA affiliate while also hitting 18 home runs.

The Cubs have some key bench positions to fill, and Workman will compete for a spot in Spring Training. If he does not make the 26-Man roster, he will be returned to the Tigers. To me this move feels like an opportunity for competition between Workman and Miles Mastrobuoni, who is also a left-handed hitting utility infielder. Mastrobuoni is beginning to run out of his minor league options, and even though Workman would not be able to be sent to the minor leagues next year, those options could be a huge factor in future seasons.

Per MLB Pipeline, Workman was Detroit’s 29th ranked prospect, and he slides into the Cubs rankings at the same spot. According to Pipeline, “Workman always had a decent floor because of his above-average speed, overall actions on the dirt and impressive arm strength. He’s a solid defensive shortstop as is but has got the lion’s share of his work in 2024 at third base, where he’s an even better fit.”

Workman’s fit at third base could come even more into play if the Cubs decide to trade Isaac Paredes in a potential deal for Kyle Tucker. With no obvious replacement available, Workman could get some time to prove himself and stick on the big league roster if that deal comes to pass.

Following the major league phase of the Rule-5, the minor league phase commenced. The Cubs ended up losing three players, with Richard Gallardo and Jacob Wetzel being selected by the Blue Jays, and Angel Gonzalez being selected by the Cardinals. In return, the Cubs added three players in William Jensen (Giants), Nolan Clenney (Mets), and Robert Kwiatkowski (Red Sox).

Image Credit: The New York Times