Nine games, three starts, and a sudden grudge— Gage Workman’s short-lived run with the Chicago Cubs ended not with a whisper, but with a bold statement. It ended with an aim right back at the former team, and let’s just say fans didn’t take it lightly. Just earlier this month, the Chicago Cubs designated the 25-year-old third baseman for assignment. It was not without reason. It was because of his sluggish start, where he logged 14 at-bats, and collected only three hits, two RBIs, a walk, six strikeouts, and a stolen base. So, not the stat line that leaves a mark on the franchise or screams, “legacy player.”

Still, the White Sox decided to take a chance on him, trading cash considerations for the $760K newcomer. And it seems like Workman is simply paying back this trust with nothing but empty promises! Speaking to the Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan, Workman said, “Grateful for my time with the Cubs and good people over there. But now I’m with the White Sox, and I’m excited to be here, and now I want to beat the Cubs.”

That’s huge given that his move was one that even Chicago White Sox fans were most unhappy about. Given the team was already struggling and slogans of ‘sell the team’ rang loud and clear— fans thought a real change was coming. Not this!

Especially also because this deal meant DFA’ing utility man Nick Maton, who, even though struggling with a .173 average, had at least shown some defensive range and power play. The White Sox were even asking for the return of Tim Elko. So, no way Workman is the hero coming to save the day for them. Plus, add to the fact that the White Sox are a dead end in the league standings, which doesn’t help.

So now, the vengeance arc after just a short while in Pinstripe is not a storyline anyone asked for. And so the situation has gone from eyebrow-raising to meme-worthy in no time. And fans are wasting no time in roasting him, from both ends.

Fans’ reaction to Workman’s strong stance on the Chicago Cubs

Fan sentiment about the statement was mixed, but mostly everyone seemed to be in a sarcastic mood. One user mentioned how Workman being on the Cubs was beating them. Meaning he didn’t need to work hard! This just brings the focus back on the misplay he made at third base when playing at third base against the Dodgers that allowed Ohtani to reach. Even though it was later changed to a hit, that error led to three runs. It was a brutal moment, and fans saw this as a breaking point for his Cubs stint.

One comment by a user just reeks of both sarcasm and maybe even some faith in Workman. Now, to be fair, Workman has shown flashes of his potential with three hits, two RBIs, and a stolen base in 15 plate appearances. But at the same time, he struck out six times and had two errors. Moreover, a .214 batting average is not screaming ‘awesome.’ Fans want consistency, and this cannot be the case when one handles third base.

A user honestly stated that Gage Workman might be talented, but he needs more time to season well in the minor leagues. Across his 126 games in Double-A in 2024, he hit 18 home runs and stole 30 bases with a .280/.366/.476 slash line. But here is the real kicker—minor league success doesn’t translate to major league wins. This is a known fact, and the Cubs, watching him struggle, couldn’t afford it anymore.

One White Sox fan asked him to focus on the ground ball. A polite way to say fix the defense. Workman had a .778 fielding percentage at third during his short stint at Chicago. This is a glaring number, given the opposition he played against. Now, despite his glowing reports in his defense at minors, he hasn’t shown the same in the majors, at least not yet.

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One user stated that Workman should focus the energy on playing rather than leaving bold statements. And it is true, because right now, whether it is the Role 5 spotlight or the pressure to perform, he does look rushed. Cubs manager Craig Counsell himself said, “I think Rule 5 picks are always in a tough spot.” There are huge expectations teams have, and teams don’t usually have the space or even time to let a player settle in completely. Unless, of course, one has a roster as stacked as the Dodgers when coming in this season.

For now, Workman is at the White Sox, and what he can do is let his versatility shine. He is great at shortstop, third, second, and even right field. Maybe shine somewhere, and maybe then spit some fire. Don’t you think so too? Let us know.