The Rundown: Workman Makes Tokyo Roster, Cubs Monitoring Rotation Additions, Overlap Caps MLB’s Latest Fashion Faux Pas

Just as Matt Shaw isn’t Kris Bryant, Gage Workman is not Mike Olt. You may remember that Olt (cough, cough) was why Bryant started 2015 in the minors before returning nine games into the season and then being named the NL Rookie of the Year. The Cubs start the 2025 season in Tokyo next week, with Shaw but without Nico Hoerner. Workman could see some action as Chicago’s third baseman or manning the keystone when the North Siders face Dodgers aces Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Rōki Sasaki.

Workman, who has had the toughest road to a roster spot of anyone in camp, has made it almost impossible to be remanded back to Detroit as a Rule 5 returnee. He’s played so well that Jed Hoyer and Craig Counsell do not have to rush Shaw or Hoerner, but a decision is looming nonetheless. Working out a trade to stash Workman in the minors is not a consideration because he is out of options and unlikely to clear waivers. That means Vidal Bruján is more likely to finish his career with the Cubs like Olt did; with a handful of at-bats to keep a spot warm for the team’s top prospect. Oh, the tales we’ll one day tell of the serviceable veteran.

I know the caveats attached to spring training stats, but nobody can deny Workman’s eye-opening performance during the first month of camp. The 25-year-old is batting .438 with a 1.222 OPS and 13 RBI entering Tuesday’s action.  He’s only struck out seven times in 33 plate appearances and he’s making loud contact. Workman’s done it against quality pitchers, too, according to Baseball-Reference’s OppQual metric. The sweet-swinging lefty reminds me a lot of Mark Grace with much more raw power. He’s also got a 65-grade glove.

That said, the regular season is a different animal. Workman was available because he also has a few warts. Though his bat speed and strength are plusses, his contact rates and swing decisions were notoriously poor while matriculating through Detroit’s system. Sasaki and Yamamoto will undoubtedly try to exploit that from the jump, and we’ll find out quickly if his newfound plate discipline is real or just another desert mirage.

Still, Workman, whose middle name and nickname is Tater, has been the best story in this year’s Cactus League. If the Cubs return him to the Tigers, he’ll undoubtedly be flipped to a rebuilding team like the Cardinals, who will eventually need a replacement for Nolan Arenado. Nobody wants to see Workman become another in a long line of Cub Killers playing for St. Louis. The preferable option is for him to become a Rule 5 star like Anthony Santander. He’ll have his shot, at least during next week’s Tokyo Series.

Cubs News & Notes

• The only player having a better spring than Workman is Pete Crow-Armstrong. Chaos and power is a fun combination.
• The Cubs notified Bruján on Sunday that he had been added to the team’s travel roster for the two-game set against the Dodgers.
• Workman was also selected to travel with the team.
• Baseball America selected Workman ($) as the most likely Rule 5 pick to make a major league roster.
• What would it cost the Cubs to extend Kyle Tucker? How about $366 million over 11 years ($)? Hoyer won’t do that, but I would.
• Tucker got his first hit of the exhibition season on Sunday, and it cleared the outfield fence.
• The team’s new right fielder admitted he loved getting traded to the Cubs. It would be a shame if he can’t be extended or resigned next winter.
• Ben Brown has been working on a changeup to add a third element to his pitch mix in hopes of becoming a starter.
• The Cubs are reportedly keeping tabs on ex-Cardinals castoffs Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson.
• Javier Assad has an oblique injury, so he will not be traveling with the team to Japan.
• Comedian Saku Yanagawa provided a little cultural advice ($) for Cubs players, coaches, and fans headed to Tokyo next week: “Go visit 7-Eleven, which is more of a high-end chain in Japan. Don’t tip in restaurants. Make sure your phone stays quiet on the train.”
• Chicago’s front office is still stinging from its unsuccessful attempt to sign Alex Bregman.
• Counsell said first base prospect Jonathon Long is a player “to keep an eye on.”
• Some of the new concessions at Wrigley Field this season are a vegetarian burger topped with kimchi and a roast beef sandwich held together by fried plantains.

Odds & Sods

The 2016 walk-off bunt by Jon Lester is The Breakdown we’ve all been waiting for.

6 to 6. Bottom of the 12th inning. The game is on the line, and the Cubs' hopes rest on Jon Lester's shoulders.

Hear @JLester34 relive his walk-off bunt on the newest episode of The Breakdown presented by @MuscoLighting: https://t.co/h88vi7MUUH pic.twitter.com/Le3jQVNIqe

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 11, 2025

Central Intelligence

• Milwaukee: Rehabbing starter Brandon Woodruff is expected to pitch a minor league game this week. That would put Woodruff on pace to make two or three additional Cactus League starts for the Brewers.
• St. Louis: An injury to Gerrit Cole may help pave the way for a Cardinals-Yankees trade that includes Arenado.
• Cincinnati: New manager Terry Francona is bullish on the Reds’ young roster.
• Pittsburgh: The Pirates have too many financial obligations to commit to extending ace Paul Skenes.

Spring Training News & Notes

MLB’s new overlap hats are a hit for all the wrong reasons.

Cole will have season-ending Tommy John surgery and could miss up to 18 months.

Max Fried will be the Yankees’ new ace in Cole’s absence.

The Dodgers and manager Dave Roberts have reportedly agreed to an extension, though it has not been officially announced. With the new deal, Roberts will become the game’s highest-paid manager.

Former Red Sox slugger Mo Vaughn admitted to using HGH near the end of his career.

The A’s are going to be the surprise of the season according to a poll of current major league players.

Extra Innings

Workman almost made me forget the Cubs still need one quality starter. Almost.

Gage Workman (3) 🌵 pic.twitter.com/XEf2PJuspm

— Cubs Home Runs (@Cubslongballs) March 7, 2025

They Said It

• “Gage has had a tremendous camp. We’ll see where that goes.” – Counsell
• “Like I said, you know, when I got traded over here, I don’t think I could have gone to a much better organization than the Cubs. I mean, the fanbase here is second to none. The teammates and front office, coaching staff, everyone that I’ve talked to and met so far have been amazing.” – Tucker
• “I’m excited for everybody to experience the country that Seiya and I grew up in. The idea, as of now, is to experience and soak in the traditional Japanese food.” – Shōta Imanaga
• “When you toast in Japan, the younger person must have their glass below the older person. It made Justin Turner feel good because he’s always going to be on the high ground.” – Counsell
• “This is a great opportunity for all of us as a baseball experience, a cultural experience, and a team bonding experience. Collectively, [Japan] will be a great life experience.” – Counsell
• “Jonny Long is a simple, low-maintenance guy. He has an elite ability to recognize pitches. He can check off balls. If a pitch starts a strike and ends up a ball, he can shut his swing down late. He can do some special things with the barrel.” – Rachel Folden

Tuesday Walk-Up Song

Opening Day is near, and summer’s not far behind.