This might have been the most telegraphed move of the season, as Chicago Cubs fans were pretty much waiting on veteran starting pitcher Aaron Civale to return after he was let go by the Athletics. The right-handed pitcher was designated for assignment during the All-Star break, and on Saturday, he was traded to the Cubs, along with some cash, in exchange for a minor league pitcher.
Civale, 31, did not put up good numbers with the Athletics in 16 total games, including 15 starts this year. He posted a 5.42 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 74.2 innings, but when you consider his home/road splits, the Cubs are getting a decent pitcher to fill in at the back end of the starting rotation.
In seven starts at home this year with the Athletics, who have either played their home games at minor league stadiums in Sacramento or Las Vegas, Civale yielded a 6.96 ERA in 32.1 innings. Meanwhile, in 42.1 innings pitched on the road this year, Civale has a 4.25 ERA with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3 to 1.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported that 22-year-old minor leaguer Aiden Moffett is going to the Athletics to complete the trade. Moffett signed with the Cubs last summer after he was not drafted out of Texas. The right-handed pitching prospect has struggled to throw strikes in his first year in pro ball, walking 42 batters in 22.1 innings between his time in the Arizona Complex League and Low-A with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
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Civale was scooped up by the Cubs last year, joining the club after the Chicago White Sox put him on waivers. As with this year, the Cubs needed pitching depth, and they claimed the right-handed pitcher who did well in September. Civale gave up three total runs in 14 innings of work with the Cubs, all coming on solo home runs, while striking out 14 and walking none in five games.
That performance earned Civale a spot on the team’s postseason roster, and he once again did a stellar job in his one outing, throwing 4.1 scoreless innings in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, who were up big after Civale came in to pitch out of the bullpen.
One note on his health: Civale did miss some time earlier in 2026, as he went on the injured list with right-shoulder tendinitis on May 26. He missed about three weeks, needing one rehab start before returning to the Athletics on June 17.
He made his MLB debut back in 2019 with the Cleveland Guardians, and after spending five seasons there, Civale has bounced around the league since, pitching for five different organizations between 2023-26. Civale has had a solid career, making 150 starts and six relief outings, and recording a 4.26 ERA in 813 MLB innings.
