Cubs President Jed Hoyer and White Sox general manager Chris Getz are good friends who just happen to be connected by their roles running Chicago’s Major League Baseball teams.

Getz is currently trying to execute a rebuild on the South Side, while Hoyer successfully pulled one off in the 2010s on the North Side with former President Theo Epstein.

Getz said in spring training that he wouldn’t hesitate in dealing with the Cubs, even as Cubs-Sox trades usually carry some risk because of the animosity between the fan bases.

“There’s different ways to look at it,” Getz told the Tribune. “If we execute a high-level trade, you’re taking some of their future away potentially. If there’s a move there that’s an obvious move for us, we’re going to do it. I’m not scared to pick up the phone and call Jed.”

So that’s what Getz did.

The two North Shore residents pulled off a minor deal Saturday, with Hoyer sending 25-year-old infielder Gage Workman to the Sox for cash considerations. Workman, a Rule 5 selection from the Detroit Tigers, had been designated for assignment by the Cubs after hitting .214 (3-for-14) with two RBIs in nine games.

“Super excited, grateful to be with this team,” Workman said Saturday morning in West Sacramento, California, where the Sox were playing the Athletics. “Excited to play and try to make a difference over here and play my game.

“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.”

The Sox designated infielder Nick Maton for assignment after acquiring Workman.

“Really excited about the athlete,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “Some pop on the left side of the plate and excited to see what he can do, some defensive versatility. You could see him against some right-handed pitching. You could see him come off the bench and run. You could see him come off the bench and play defense. Excited to see what he can do.”

The Workman deal wasn’t exactly a move that would push the Bears’ draft news off the front page, but it filled a need for the Sox, who’ve struggled offensively, particularly at shortstop and at third and first base. They were hitting a major league-worst .205 entering Saturday’s game against the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif., and also were at the bottom of the majors in runs scored (83) and OPS (.596).

Workman had only four starts at third base for the Cubs and committed two errors. A poor defensive play at third last week on a grounder helped fuel the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 10-run inning in the Cubs’ 13-11 win, and an error Tuesday in an 11-10 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers likely contributed to the Cubs’ decision to part ways with Workman.

“I think Gage was in a tough spot,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Saturday. “Rule 5 picks are always in a tough spot, especially on this team, kind of the expectations of this team. In a lot of ways you can say he did not get the appropriate opportunity. We couldn’t give him that opportunity.”

Venable said the Sox will “probably have to move” Workman around a little.

“Certainly third base primarily,” Venable said. “I think he’s just played the most there and is the most comfortable here. Talking to people in Chicago, talking to people he’s been around, there’s some real versatility to his game defensively.”

The Cubs started the season with rookie Matt Shaw at third base, which led to few opportunities for Workman, who won a roster spot in spring training but garnered only 14 at-bats in the first month of the season.

The Cubs signed former Sox infielder Nicky Lopez after DFAing Workman and currently are auditioning different players at third, with Jon Berti getting another start Saturday.