Welcome back to Chicago, Aaron Civale. After stints with both the White Sox and Cubs last year, Civale was traded to the Cubs on July 18, 2026, from the Athletics for a Minor League reliever. The move comes amidst a very difficult two-plus-month stretch for the veteran right-hander.

The Cubs’ Return

• SP Aaron Civale (5.42 ERA, 58 K over 74.2 IP)

The Athletics signed pitcher Aaron Civale in February 2026 to fill out a rotation filled with question marks. At the time, Gage Jump wasn’t yet ready for the Majors, and Civale was and is a veteran pitcher with experience at the big-league level — something needed by the A’s. And, it was an opportunity to start after he pitched out of the bullpen for the Cubs down the stretch last season.

His time in Sacramento, though, was a mixed bag.

Across his first six outings, Civale posted a 3.23 ERA and only allowed three home runs across 32 innings, compared to 24 innings. But since then, a 6.95 ERA and the fourth-highest HR/9 (2.7) among starting pitchers with 30+ IP between May 1 and July 13.

The game hasn’t changed much for Civale in terms of how he approaches hitters. Civale will still throw the kitchen sink, highlighted by his cutter, which has been, arguably, his best pitch throughout his MLB career. That cutter saw consistent, steady usage, while he also started using the curveball more and the sinker fewer times.

Nonetheless, though, the numbers were not great in Sacramento. Lots of well-hit contact, and it was not limited to just one pitch, either. You can also see exactly why Civale was using the sinker fewer times and the curveball more.

The Athletics’ Return

• RP Aiden Moffett (9.67 ERA, 25 K over 22.1 IP (A & ACL))

The Athletics get 22-year-old Aiden Moffett, currently in the ACL affiliate for the Chicago Cubs. He was an undrafted free agent signed by the Cubs back in 2025. Moffett walked 42 over 22.1 IP between the two levels he pitched at this season.

High-80s to low-90s sinker, coupled with a changeup.

Analysis

This is the second time this year that the Cubs have made a move for a starting pitcher, and one who struggled this season, before the Trade Deadline. Last month, Chicago picked up left-hander David Peterson from the Mets.

Unlike the Peterson trade, though, the cost wasn’t that high. The Cubs parted with a good first baseman prospect, Cole Mathis, albeit one who wasn’t one of the best prospects in the system. Here, the Athletics essentially took a lottery ticket to get Civale off the books.

For the Cubs, it’s more depth and a pitcher whom the Cubs are familiar with. Last year, he struck out 14 over 13 innings out of the bullpen, and only allowed three earned runs, all of which were off the long ball.

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