The Chicago Cubs have announced the acquisition of veteran right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale from the Athletics. In exchange, the Athletics will receive minor league right-hander Aiden Moffett. Civale had previously been with the Cubs at the end of the last season before joining the Athletics and was recently designated for assignment by his former team on Wednesday.
In related roster adjustments on Saturday, the Athletics placed right-hander Justin Sterner on the 15-day injured list due to right knee chondromalacia. They also called up righty Geoff Hartlieb from Triple-A Las Vegas and designated first baseman/outfielder Joey Meneses for assignment. Civale, at 31 years old, signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Athletics in February. He began his season strongly with a 5-1 record and a 2.70 ERA over his initial nine starts. However, his performance declined significantly, posting an 8.25 ERA in three June starts and a 10.29 ERA across two July starts, leading to six consecutive losses.
Throughout his tenure with the Athletics, Civale recorded a 5-7 record with a 5.42 ERA over 74 2/3 innings across 16 appearances, 15 of which were starts. His time with the team was also interrupted by a three-week absence due to right shoulder tendinitis. Athletics manager Mark Kotsay acknowledged Civale's strong start but noted his inability to maintain that form. Civale's career statistics include a 48-51 record and a 4.26 ERA, alongside 723 strikeouts and 226 walks in 156 appearances, with 150 starts, across multiple teams including the Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, and the Athletics. Notably, he had a 1-0 record with a 2.08 ERA in five relief appearances for the Cubs, a departure from his primary role as a starter in his previous 135 major league games. Moffett, the 22-year-old prospect, posted a combined 1-2 record with a 10.07 ERA, 42 walks, and 25 strikeouts over 22 1/3 innings in 17 relief appearances across the Cubs' Class-A Myrtle Beach affiliate and Rookie League teams. Sterner, 29, has a 2-4 record with one save, a 6.12 ERA, 13 walks, and 40 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings over 46 relief appearances this season. Hartlieb, 32, has a 1-1 record with a 5.19 ERA, three walks, and three strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings over four relief appearances with the Athletics this season, bringing his career record to 2-2 with a 7.69 ERA, 64 walks, and 84 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings across 72 relief appearances for seven different teams since 2019. Meneses, 34, hit .150 (3-for-20) with two RBIs in nine games for the Athletics this season, following parts of three seasons with the Washington Nationals from 2022-24, where he batted .274 with 29 home runs and 165 RBIs in 286 games.
This transaction highlights the dynamic nature of professional sports, where teams constantly seek to optimize their rosters through strategic trades and player movements. It underscores the challenges athletes face in maintaining consistent performance and the continuous pursuit of excellence that defines their careers. Every player's journey, filled with highs and lows, contributes to the compelling narrative of the game, reminding us of the dedication and resilience required to compete at the highest level.
