The White Sox acquired right-hander Aaron Civale and money concerns from Milwaukee for first baseman Andrew Vaughn. The Brewers optioned Vaughn to Triple-A Nashville, whereas Civale will step immediately into Chicago’s rotation. The Brewers are reportedly sending money to offset the distinction in remaining wage between Civale’s $8MM sum and Vaughn’s $5.85MM determine.
It’s a fast turnaround after Civale requested a trade away from Milwaukee on Thursday. Civale’s commerce request got here on the heels of the membership’s choice earlier this week to bump him from the rotation so as to name up prime pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski. Civale, a free agent after the 2025 marketing campaign who struggled a bit final 12 months however has pitched to a 3.32 ERA and three.92 FIP in 4 begins since getting back from the injured checklist final month, evidently needs to carry onto a rotation job to set himself up for achievement in free company this winter as a lot as attainable.
The 30-year-old’s want was promptly granted, as he’s now headed for the White Sox. The South Siders haven’t any actual hope of competing for a playoff spot this 12 months, however with a patchwork rotation that options a number of Rule 5 draftees it’s not laborious to see Civale as a probably substantial improve for his or her beginning rotation. Whereas a group headed for his or her second-consecutive 100-loss marketing campaign buying a rental beginning pitcher in the midst of the season is a uncommon incidence, one can see the logic from Chicago’s perspective provided that they’ll have the chance to flip Civale to a membership with postseason aspirations nearer to the commerce deadline.
The logic is especially sound for the White Sox given the participant they’re giving up in return. Vaughn was the third-overall decide within the 2019 draft and a longtime prime 100 prospect, however his main league profession has been a disappointment to this point. He entered the 2025 season with a profession .253/.310/.415 (102 wRC+) slash line on the main league degree and has had only one season the place he had hit at a clip considerably higher than league common. Issues took a extra pronounced nosedive this 12 months, as he’s slashed simply .189/.218/.314 (44 wRC+) throughout 48 video games for the White Sox in 2025. It’s the bottom on-base share of any participant with no less than 120 plate appearances within the majors this 12 months, and his -1.3 fWAR this season is useless final amongst all hitters who’ve stepped as much as the plate within the majors this season. The Sox optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte a couple of weeks in the past and he has hit .211/.328/.351 in 15 video games for the Knights since then.
That’s not a participant the White Sox may count on to get a considerable prospect return for this summer season, and whereas Vaughn has one 12 months of management remaining after this one he presently has the look of a transparent non-tender candidate. That absolutely made the chance to roll the cube on flipping a veteran beginning pitcher a really engaging possibility for Chicago.
With all that being stated, it’s not as if the deal doesn’t make sense for the Brewers. Civale now not slot in an more and more deep Brewers rotation combine, and his roster spot is probably going higher used on different arms extra fitted to bullpen responsibility than a veteran starter with zero profession aid appearances. What’s extra, Vaughn’s underlying numbers paint the image of a participant whose precise efficiency isn’t all that completely different from his earlier seasons as a league common hitter. Whereas he’s strolling at a career-low 3.6% clip, he was by no means an particularly affected person hitter. His 22.3% strikeout price is simply a tick greater than final 12 months, and his 13.3% barrel price this season is definitely the most effective of his profession and 4 factors higher than final season. Vaughn’s ghastly .217 BABIP ought to enhance with time, and with incumbent first baseman Rhys Hoskins probably ticketed free of charge company this winter getting Vaughn on board as a less expensive attainable substitute is smart.
Within the shorter time period, Vaughn will function minor league depth. The Brewers reportedly view him as a full-time first baseman/DH though he has expertise within the outfield.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post first reported that Milwaukee was buying and selling Civale to the White Sox. Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported that Vaughn was headed again to the Brewers. Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reported the money trade.
