Brewers Trade Aaron Civale To White Sox For Andrew Vaughn

[wibadgers23]

Image courtesy of © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Less than 24 hours after requesting a trade, the Milwaukee Brewers have traded starting pitcher Aaron Civale to the Chicago White Sox, according to Jon Heyman.

In return, the Brewers acquired the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, Andrew Vaughn.

Civale requested a trade after the Brewers moved the veteran right-hander to the bullpen for a debuting Jacob Misiorowski. Civale wanted to continue his career as a starter, even if it resulted in playing for another team.

There was nothing against the organization, coaches, or teammates. Civale simply wanted to pursue what is best for his career.

While he will go to a less competitive team in the White Sox, Civale will find plenty of opportunities for the start for the club and could even be traded again prior to the trade deadline.

The White Sox send over Andrew Vaughn, a first baseman with little experience at third base, second base, and the corner outfield positions, who has struggled to begin his 2025 campaign.

I mentioned Vaughn as a potential trade candidate back in the 2023-2024 offseason and he been clamoring about him ever since. You can find this story here.

As part of the White Sox, Vaughn is hitting a career .248/.303/.407 line hitting 77 home runs in the process. However, his .189 batting average along with his 49 OPS+ this season resulted in his option down to Triple-A.

While it is yet to be determined whether he will be on the Brewers 26-man roster, it will be a nice change of scenery move going from a team at the bottom of the American League to a team with playoff aspirations.

Vaughn has one more year of club control, possibly two depending on how much time he spends in the minor leagues this year. He could be an option the Brewers look at first base after the 2025 season.

Special thanks to @wibadgers23 for starting the forum thread that this article is based upon.

What are your thoughts on the trade? Do you think the Brewers could’ve gotten a better return? Let us know in the comments.

View full article

[Matt]

Good. Good for him, good for the Brewers (unless it's for cash, which would be annoying).

[Roderick]

5 minutes ago, Matt said:

Good. Good for him, good for the Brewers (unless it's for cash, which would be annoying).

Well you know the White Sox are just going to trade him in July.  So they have to get their markup or admin fees for taking him off our hands now and holding him for a month.😎

[JosephC]

Brewers getting a modest amount of cash probably wouldn't be that bad of a return...largely because it means the White Sox are picking up all of his remaining salary.

Civale is probably seen as about a 1 WAR pitcher, and that is pretty reasonable.  The White Sox are getting 5/8ths of a season of a 1 WAR player who has an 8 million dollar salary.  Anything more than an organizational filler type player in return would be pretty surprising.

[Brian]

White Sox, Brewers Swap Aaron Civale, Andrew Vaughn.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/white-sox-to-acquire-aaron-civale.html

[Brewer77]

Andrew Vaughn, we love our former first rounders

[JollyCharlie]

Better than expected return.

[LouisEly]

If my math is correct, Vaughn should have at least two options remaining.  He's been sent down twice, but one was for only two days so it shouldn't count as an option. 

Interesting play for next season, assuming Hoskins moves on.

[Playing Catch]

This is about a like-for-like trade as you can get, in terms of on-field roster value.

I was NOT expecting this kind of return. I was expecting salary relief and/or a 20-year old kid playing in the Florida Complex League.

[rickh150]

Ricky Vaughn has all 3 options left according to Fangrapks...likely viewed as a possible poor man's replacement for Hoskins next year...in his 5th year....if he is sent to AAA we have him for 2026/2027.

[sveumrules]

Vaughn is only $5.85M, so saves a couple million at least.

If Brenton Del Chiaro and staff can unlock the goods that made him the #3 overall pick that would be pretty cool.

[Brian]

The only place that would have been worse for Civale would have been a Rockies trade. 

[endaround]

8 minutes ago, Playing Catch said:

This is about a like-for-like trade as you can get, in terms of on-field roster value.

I was NOT expecting this kind of return. I was expecting salary relief and/or a 20-year old kid playing in the Florida Complex League.

I too was not expecting a 1B who hits like Ortiz.  Nothing would have been better.

[sveumrules]

Will be interesting to see how the change of venue and fielders impacts an extreme fly baller like Civale.

White Sox stadium has a 96 park factor for HR per StatCast versus a 106 for AmFam, so that should help.

StatCast has pegged Brewers OF for +10 FRV (2nd) versus -8 FRV (27th) for the White Sox, so big downgrade there.

[Sakatarama]

I'd be amazed if he played for the Brewers this year. Seems to be more of a speculative add. Nothing wrong with it, I assume it balances out some money.

If any first baseman is coming up from Nashville to Milwaukee this year, I'm gonna assume it's Martinez.

[Frisbee Slider]

9 minutes ago, Brian said:

The only place that would have been worse for Civale would have been a Rockies trade. 

White Sox turn our former starters into guys with 2.00 ERAs (Smith and Houser)

[duewizard]

Josh Rojas would have been my preference for underperforming major leaguers. My guess is we wont see Vaugh on a regular basis until next year if ever at all

[Brian]

2 minutes ago, Frisbee Slider said:

White Sox turn our former starters into guys with 2.00 ERAs (Smith and Houser)

That would be great for Civale being 30 years old. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Wes Clarke continues his descent further down the organizational depth chart. Commentary on his play aside, 2025 has not been kind to his future Brewers prospects. 

[Playing Catch]

I think this is a great trade for the White Sox. SOMEONE has to eat innings for them. I wouldn't be completely shocked if they just kept him, tried to re-sign him. He's a good veteran to have around for the next few years, and he has made it obvious that he doesn't care about winning; his demanding [edit: requesting] a trade, off of a contending team, in June.

[wibadgers23]

This is more about next year for the Brewers when Hoskins is gone.  Maybe a change of scenery will do Vaughn some good?

[Playing Catch]

5 minutes ago, wibadgers23 said:

This is more about next year for the Brewers when Hoskins is gone.  Maybe a change of scenery will do Vaughn some good?

Who knows if he'll improve, which he'll need to do to be a 26-man consideration. But it HAS to feel good to get out of that franchise for the first time, no?

He's just got to feel amazing.

[mudbutt]

He will be non tendered next year barring some insane run, but maybe each party will like each other enough that he will be retained as a depth signing.

[Brian]

https://reviewingthebrew.com/brewers-fulfill-aaron-civale-s-trade-request-by-sending-him-to-one-of-worst-destinations-01jxmt5s0cb4

Defensively, while Vaughn does have past experience in the outfield, he has only manned first base for the last two seasons. The Brewers are currently stacked at first base not only in the majors but also in Triple-A, with both Ernesto Martinez Jr. and Tyler Black getting starts at the cold corner for the Nashville Sounds, so it's possible the Brewers try Vaughn in the outfield, as they did with fellow change-of-scenery candidate Bobby Dalbec.

Vaughn still has three minor league options remaining, so don't expect him in a Brewers uniform any time soon, but he does offer a high-upside bat in the upper levels of the minor leagues for the time being, and could fill in at first base for the Crew next season should he find his swing again.

[endaround]

Find his swing again? Guy never had a swing.