Cubs, RHP Brandon Workman agree to terms on one-year contract

MESA -- The Chicago Cubs today agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Brandon Workman on a one-year major league contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. In a corresponding move, the Cubs designated infielder Sergio Alcántara for assignment. Chicago’s 40-man roster remains at 40 players.

Workman, 32, has posted a 3.89 ERA (130 ER/301.0 IP) with a 25-20 record and 25 saves in 209 games (18 starts) with the Red Sox (2013-14, 2017-20) and Phillies (2020). He has averaged 9.5 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, with 318 strikeouts in 301.0 innings. Workman has limited opponents to a .236 batting average, a .318 on-base percentage and a .382 slugging mark, holding right-handed hitters to a .235 average and left-handed batters to a .237 average.

A two-time World Series champion with Boston in both 2013 and 2018, Workman in 2019 was 10-1 with a 1.88 ERA (15 ER/71.2 IP) in a career-high 73 outings for the Red Sox, limiting opponents to a .123 batting average, the lowest single-season mark in the majors since 1900 (min. 60.0 IP).

Workman last season posted a 4.05 ERA (3 ER/6.2 IP) in seven relief appearances with Boston before he was traded to Philadelphia in a four-player deal on August 21. Between the two clubs, he pitched to a 5.95 ERA (13 ER/19.2 IP) with nine saves in 12 chances spanning 21 games.

Originally selected by Boston in the second round of the 2010 draft out of the University of Texas at Austin, Workman made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2013. He missed the 2015-16 seasons due to a right elbow injury that necessitated Tommy John surgery on June 15, 2015.

Alcántara, 24, was claimed off waivers from Detroit on February 5. He made his major league debut with the Tigers last season, appearing in 10 games.