Infielder Gage Workman has cleared waivers and is being returned to the Tigers by the White Sox, according to his MLB.com transaction log. He will report to Triple-A Toledo.
This move was expected after the White Sox designated him for assignment earlier this week. Workman was originally selected by the Cubs from the Tigers in last December’s Rule 5 Draft. He made the Cubs’ Opening Day roster and appeared in nine games early in the season. However, after the team signed veteran utilityman Nicky Lopez in mid-April, there was no longer a spot for Workman. Due to Rule 5 rules, the Cubs couldn’t send him to the minors, so they designated him for assignment and traded him to the White Sox for cash.
Workman only played three games for the White Sox before going on the injured list with a right hip flexor strain. After he was activated, the team opted not to bring him back to the big-league roster and DFA’d him again. With no other team claiming him — likely due to his .485 OPS in 17 plate appearances — he cleared waivers.
Per Rule 5 guidelines, the White Sox had to offer him back to the Tigers, who accepted. Since he’s returning to his original team, Detroit is not required to place him on the 26- or 40-man roster. Instead, he’ll rejoin their minor league system, where he had success last season, hitting .280 with a 142 wRC+ over 126 games at the Double-A level.
