Tigers lose 2 players (including trade piece) in Rule 5 Draft to Cubs and Marlins

The Detroit Tigers passed on making a move in Wednesday's Rule 5 Draft at the MLB Winter Meetings, but their farm system took a hit as they lost two prospects to rival teams in the process.

With the No. 3 selection in the Rule 5 Draft, the Miami Marlins selected catcher Liam Hicks from the Tigers. Then, at No. 13, the Chicago Cubs selected third baseman Gage Workman, who was a fourth-round pick by the Tigers in the 2020 MLB Draft. Hicks was selected in the ninth round by the Texas Rangers the following year.

Detroit chose to leave the pair of prospects exposed in this year's Rule 5 Draft by not adding them to the club's 40-man roster at last month's deadline. Instead, they protected a trio of right-handed relief pitchers in Tyler Owens, Tyler Mattison and Chase Lee.

Owens and Hicks were both components of the Carson Kelly trade at the MLB Trade Deadline, but the Tigers ultimately felt more inclined to protect the former, due in large part to his contributions down the stretch and in the playoffs with Double-A Erie.

Tigers lose Gage Workman to Cubs, Liam Hicks to Marlins in Rule 5 Draft

Workman is a lefty-hitting infielder who slashed .280/.366/.476 with Double-A Erie in 2024. The 25-year-old hit 18 home runs and 29 doubles and drove in 89 runs over 556 plate appearances. The Tigers’ No. 29 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, made 74 starts at third base in 2024 and 47 at shortstop.

Hicks' time with the Tigers was brief, as the organization had just acquired him from the Rangers at the deadline. In 33 games with Double-A Erie last season, he slashed .272/.414/.368 while logging time at catcher and designated hitter. Hicks did not rank among Detroit's top 30 prospects per MLB Pipeline.

After Hicks was picked up by the Marlins in Wednesday's draft, a report emerged from Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times that the 25-year-old catcher could be on the move yet again, this time to the Rays. No deal has been announced yet, but that's pretty much that for your Rule 5 roundup.

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