The Athletics are making moves! In a significant development for the team, the Athletics have reportedly reached an agreement with right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale on a one-year contract. This deal guarantees him $6 million and offers the potential for an additional $1.5 million in incentives, making it an interesting investment for the club. Civale is represented by agent Jack Toffey.
This marks the second free agent acquisition for the A's in less than a week, following their recent agreement with relief pitcher Scott Barlow. With their 40-man roster currently full, the team will need to make two roster adjustments to accommodate these new signings.
But here's where it gets interesting: For much of his big league career, Civale has been a reliable fourth or fifth starter. The 30-year-old righty boasts a career ERA of 4.24 over 680 2/3 innings. He's demonstrated a solid ability to strike out batters, with a 21.8% strikeout rate, and has kept walks in check at 6.6%. He also induces ground balls a healthy 39.4% of the time. While he used to have a reputation for pitching deep into games early in his career, recent seasons have seen him typically pitching around five innings. This shift might be linked to how he performs when facing a lineup for a third time, a point where his effectiveness has sometimes waned.
Last season, 2025, was a bit of a whirlwind for Civale, as he split time between the Brewers, White Sox, and Cubs. In a total of 102 innings, spread across 18 starts and 5 relief appearances, he posted an ERA of 4.85, which was the second-highest of his career. While his strikeout and walk rates remained consistent with previous years, he seemed more vulnerable to home runs. He also experienced some uncharacteristic struggles with runners on base; his 67.8% strand rate was the second-worst of his career, falling nearly six percentage points below his career average.
And this is the part most people miss: Looking at his performance from 2023-2024, Civale actually put up a very respectable ERA of 3.97 across 54 starts with the Guardians, Brewers, and Rays. During that span, he struck out about 22.2% of batters faced, with a walk rate of 7.1%, which was comfortably better than the league average. His pitching arsenal isn't about overpowering velocity; his four-seamer typically sits between 91-92 mph, his sinker between 92-93 mph, and his cutter between 89-90 mph. He also throws a curveball around 77 mph and occasionally mixes in a slider or splitter. It's a diverse mix of pitches that, when he's at his best, can be quite effective thanks to his excellent command.
With this signing, Civale is expected to solidify the Athletics' starting rotation. He'll join a group that includes Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, Jacob Lopez, and Luis Morales. Last season, Severino and Springs were the team's workhorses, leading in starts and innings pitched with ERAs in the low 4.00s. Jacob Lopez also had a solid year with a 3.96 ERA in 84 innings, but he did so with impressive strikeout numbers (27.7% K%) and a manageable walk rate (9.2% BB%), making him a strong candidate for the 2026 rotation. The promising 23-year-old Luis Morales made his debut with a 3.09 ERA in his first nine starts, showcasing a 22.6% strikeout rate and an 8.9% walk rate.
Civale's addition is crucial as it should alleviate some of the pressure on the hard-throwing Luis Medina, who is returning from Tommy John surgery in 2024. It also provides a buffer for top prospects Gage Jump and Jamie Arnold, who could potentially make their MLB debuts in 2026, with Jump being the more likely of the two. Beyond these pitchers, the Athletics have further depth on their 40-man roster with players like Gunnar Hoglund, Jack Perkins, J.T. Ginn, Joey Estes, and promising prospects Henry Baez and Braden Nett. Some of these depth pieces, who have faced challenges at the MLB level, might transition to relief roles.
Now, for a point of discussion: Civale's contract, with a base salary of $6 million, is projected to bring the Athletics' Opening Day payroll to around $95 million. However, due to a series of contract extensions for their core hitters, the team's luxury tax or Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) payroll is significantly higher, clocking in at around $146 million. The team hasn't stopped there, as they've also been active in the bullpen market and are reportedly exploring options at third base. Could these moves signal a more aggressive approach from the A's than we've seen in recent years?
What are your thoughts on this signing? Do you think Civale will be a valuable addition to the A's rotation, or are there concerns about his recent performance? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!
