Brewers Acquire Aaron Civale Via Trade From Rays
Right-hander Aaron Civale is on the move again, set to join the Milwaukee Brewers, who’ll become his third team in the last 12 months.
Civale, a third-round selection in 2016, was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays prior to last season’s trade deadline, a deal that sent first baseman prospect Kyle Manzardo to the Cleveland Guardians. Nearly one year later, he’s now headed to the NL Central-leading Brewers.
The trade was first reported by MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
FanSided’s Robert Murray reports Milwaukee is sending infield prospect Gregory Barrios as part of the deal. The 20-year-old was ranked the organization’s No. 21 top prospect per MLB Pipeline.
In 61 games at High-A this season, Barrios has hit .325/.367/.429 with 17 doubles, one home run, 34 RBIs and a 125 wRC+. He’s swiped 18 bases thus far and has been caught just six times.
Milwaukee has designated right-hander Taylor Clarke for assignment to make room for Civale on its 40-man roster. He’s the second starter to join the franchise in the last week after the club brought in Dallas Keuchel from the Seattle Mariners organization.
Civale struggled mightily during his brief Rays tenure. He pitched to a 2.34 ERA and 3.53 FIP in 13 starts with the Guardians prior to last season’s trade, but then faltered to a 5.36 ERA while surrendering seven home runs in just 10 starts after joining the Rays.
It’s been more of the same this season, as the 29-year-old righty posted a miserable 5.07 ERA and 4.69 FIP over 87 innings in 17 starts, earning a 1.66 HR/9 – tied for a career-worst. He’s also walked 7.1 percent of his batters faced thus far, another career-worst mark.
The six-pitch hurler relies primarily on his cutter, throwing it over 30 percent of the time, but opponents have touched it up for a .301 AVG and .476 SLG in 2024. It was his most effective weapon a season ago, registering a +11 run value, the highest amongst his arsenal.
Civale’s arrival brings another much-needed addition to a Brewers rotation that’s struggled to find healthy bodies this season. Robert Gasser and Wade Miley are out for the year with Tommy John surgery, Brandon Woodruff won’t pitch at all in 2024, while DL Hall and Joe Ross aren’t expected back until after the All-Star break.
With Corbin Burnes traded before the season, Civale joins a staff being held together by duct tape, including Freddy Peralta, Bryse Wilson, Colin Rea, Tobias Myers and Keuchel.
Despite their best efforts, that group has struggled to remain afloat, as they enter Wednesday’s slate ranked 17th in starter’s ERA (4.19), 24th in K-BB% (12.6%), 25th in FIP (4.53) and 26th in HR/9 (1.33) and fWAR (3.4).
The Brewers will now attempt to rejuvenate Civale to the pitcher he was during his five seasons with the Guardians. But given how their rotation still has a few holes to fill, chances are general manager Matt Arnold isn’t finished exploring the starting pitching market.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: Jeffrey Hayes. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.