MESA, Ariz. -- What was shaping up to be an open competition for the final spot in the Athletics’ rotation this spring might now be settled before camp even begins with the signing of right-hander Aaron Civale.
On the eve of pitchers and catchers reporting to Hohokam Stadium for the start of Spring Training, the A’s reached a one-year, $6 million deal with Civale on Tuesday. The deal includes an additional $1.5 million in incentives, a source told MLB.com.
The A's also officially announced the signing of right-hander Scott Barlow on Tuesday. To clear spots on the 40-man roster for Civale and Barlow, right-handed pitchers Grant Holman and Mitch Spence were designated for assignment.
Civale fits the profile of the type of experienced veteran starter A’s general manager David Forst was after all winter. The 30-year-old righty has started 135 of his 140 Major League games over a seven-year big league career with the Guardians, Rays, Brewers, White Sox and Cubs, holding a 4.14 ERA over that span.
Civale recorded a 4.85 ERA across 102 innings with the Brewers, White Sox and Cubs last season. Landing on the injured list with a strained left hamstring after the first series of the ‘25 season, Civale returned in late May and requested a trade on June 12 shortly after the Brewers informed him that he would be moving to the bullpen to make room for top pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski. Traded to the White Sox on June 13, Civale was eventually claimed off waivers by the Cubs and ended the year on Chicago’s North Side, where he made the first five relief appearances in his 10 years as a pro ballplayer and recorded a 2.08 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 13 innings.
Civale has shown the ability to be an above-average rotation piece in recent seasons. In 2023, he posted a 2.34 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in 77 innings with the Guardians before he was traded to the Rays midseason for then-prospect Kyle Manzardo.
Although his time with Tampa from 2023-24 was generally unsuccessful (5.17 ERA in 132 1/3 frames), Civale rebounded following a trade to Milwaukee in July 2024. He didn’t allow more than three earned runs in any of his final nine starts that season, leading to a 2.57 ERA over that stretch.
Civale is a command artist who leans mostly on his high-80s cutter while mixing in a curveball as well as a sinker and a four-seamer that both top out at about 92 mph. He is a flyball pitcher whose 65.1% airball rate in 2025 was a career high, which could spell trouble pitching in a hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, though the A’s are hopeful that his track record of generating weak contact will benefit him.
With the A’s, Civale likely solidifies the back end of a rotation that is expected to include established veterans Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs, along with Luis Morales and Jacob Lopez, both of whom flashed promise last season as rookies.