The Milwaukee Brewers have officially traded right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale to the Chicago White Sox, as reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. This trade marks a swift decision following Civale's recent request to leave Milwaukee, which he submitted just a day prior to the announcement. According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, first baseman Andrew Vaughn will be heading to Milwaukee in return for Civale.
Aaron Civale's trade request came shortly after the Brewers made the decision to remove him from their starting rotation. This change was made to accommodate the promotion of top pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski. Civale, who is set to become a free agent after the 2025 season, has had a mixed performance lately. While he struggled last year, he has managed to maintain a solid 3.32 ERA and a 3.92 FIP in four starts since returning from the injured list last month. Civale's aim to secure a rotation spot is likely driven by his desire to enhance his value ahead of free agency this winter.
Although the White Sox are not in contention for a playoff position this year, they have a rotation that could significantly benefit from Civale's addition. The team has been utilizing a patchwork rotation that includes several Rule 5 draftees, making Civale a potentially valuable upgrade. Acquiring a rental starting pitcher mid-season is uncommon for a team facing its second consecutive 100-loss campaign, yet the decision appears logical from Chicago’s standpoint. They may have the opportunity to trade Civale to a postseason-contending team as the trade deadline approaches.
In exchange for Civale, the Brewers will receive Andrew Vaughn, who was the third overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft and has long been regarded as a top 100 prospect. Unfortunately, his major league career has not lived up to expectations. As he entered the 2025 season, Vaughn held a career .253/.310/.415 (102 wRC+) batting line, with only one season exceeding league-average performance. This year, his stats have taken a significant downturn, as he has posted a dismal .189/.218/.314 (44 wRC+) across 48 games. This performance reflects the lowest on-base percentage among all players with at least 120 plate appearances in the majors this season. Furthermore, his -1.3 fWAR is the worst among all major league hitters this year.
The White Sox face a challenging decision regarding Vaughn, who has one year of control remaining after this season but is currently viewed as a non-tender candidate. This situation makes the trade for Civale particularly appealing as the White Sox look to potentially flip the veteran starter for a better return later in the season. As both teams navigate the complexities of this trade, the implications will unfold in the coming weeks.
