MESA, Ariz. -- Aaron Civale will enter his eighth Major League season playing for his sixth different team after signing a one-year deal with the Athletics.
Acclimating to a new group of teammates this Spring Training as an expected member of the A’s starting rotation in 2026, Civale took some time inside the clubhouse at Hohokam Stadium to answer some questions.
MLB.com: You officially signed a day before Spring Training began. What was going through the whole offseason as a free agent like?
Civale: There’s definitely some anxiety involved in it. Every day, you don't know if the phone call is going to be a good phone call, a neutral phone call or a bad phone call. I was just staying the course and preparing the same that I've prepared for any other year. Where you're going to be pitching is different. But still going into it and preparing for 30 to 35 starts, hopefully more in the playoffs, and trusting the process, trusting everything you've done in the past and going from there.
MLB.com: As you fielded calls from teams, what was it about the A’s that drew you in?
Civale: The position player core that they have here is definitely a big draw. It's an awesome young group. It seems to be up-and-coming, for sure. Last year was a breakout year for a lot of the guys, and they're going to continue to bond with each other and continue to grow on their own. The opportunity side from a pitching standpoint, a chance to come in here and be a starter with this team and provide some quality innings and compete with some of the guys that are in this clubhouse. The best pitching staffs I've been a part of have been friendly competitions amongst ourselves. There’s a couple of friendly faces I've played with in the past. End of the day, there's a lot of positives and a lot of things to look forward to with this team.
MLB.com: It can be tough switching teams during the season. Last year, you played for three different teams. How would you describe the way last season went for you?
Civale: I’ve gone through a lot of different teams in the past few years. Been traded a couple of times. Every time you go through that, you learn something new about yourself and about the process. You handle that transition a little smoother the next time. But everything, from this game to life in general, you are faced with challenges. Your goal is to learn from those and adapt and figure out how to handle the next challenge that's thrown at you with the experience that you have. I’m going to take all the experience that I have from the past and try my best to apply it to this year.
MLB.com: Being a veteran of this league, is helping out some of the younger guys on this pitching staff something you’re looking to do?
Civale: Sure. At the same time, I'll continue to learn and figure some things out myself. But this will be my eighth season in the big leagues. There's a lot of guys that I've played with that have shared stuff with me, a lot that I've taken from them, and a lot that I've learned on my own. … If I can pass on a little piece of info here and there, I can take something in from someone else. That's what makes a team. That makes a pitching staff beautiful. That's how you work together and continue to grow together.