One day after requesting a trade from the Brewers, Aaron Civale has a new home. Milwaukee traded Civale to the White Sox, in exchange for former first-round pick Andrew Vaughn.

The White Sox’s Return

• SP Aaron Civale (4.91 ERA, 19 K over 22 IP)

It’s the third time in as many years Aaron Civale has found himself on the move.

Civale was traded two years ago in a major trade with the Rays. Tampa, in need of pitching, traded Kyle Manzardo to get the righty & fill out their rotation. But after the team found itself out of playoff position — not to mention, flush with pitching in 2024 — last season, the Rays traded him to Milwaukee.

The right-hander delivered quality results, albeit expected ones. Civale struck out 65 over 74 innings last season with Milwaukee, along with a 3.53 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.

Civale only made five starts this season, as he missed almost two full months with a hamstring injury.

The Brewers planned on moving Civale to the bullpen, with Jacob Misiorowski now with the club. However, a report from the New York Times on June 12 came out, with his agent requesting a trade for his client.

A 30-year-old right-hander, Civale doesn’t boast an overwhelming pitch on paper. However, Civale can be considered a “junk” pitcher, as he uses many different offerings.

His cutter is very good; it’s a high-80s offering with above-average induced vertical movement that can rise on hitters. That has long been a preferred weapon for him against lefties, as it’s a pitch that can run and up on hitters. Civale will generally go with his running two-seamer more against righties.

Civale’s curveball, much like in past years, is a buckler, one with above-average movement. However, he’s used it less since 2023.

The Brewers’ Return

• 1B Andrew Vaughn (.189/218/.314, five HR and 13 XBH over 48 GP) (MLB)

This, for many, likely wasn’t the expected outcome for Andrew Vaughn.

Vaughn was the third overall pick for the White Sox back in 2019. The first baseman came off an exceptional collegiate career at Cal-Berkeley and ranked among the best hitters available in that draft. He did all with the Bears: hit home runs — he had 23 in his sophomore season — and work counts. Vaughn walked 60 times during his junior season.

It took him two years to move up to the Majors. Vaughn hit 32 home runs across his first two seasons, playing mostly in the outfield with Jose Abreu was around. But after Abreu went to free agency after 2022, Vaughn took over as the team’s regular first baseman in 2023.

He never put up stellar numbers as a regular. Vaughn had a cumulative total of 40 home runs between 2023-24 but had a penchant for racking up doubles and not striking out. But as the numbers above suggest, it was a nightmarish run for Vaughn this season, one that got him demoted.

Since returning to Triple-A, Vaughn hasn’t done much better. The 27-year-old only hit .211/.328/.351 (.679 OPS) with Charlotte.

When looking at the analytics, it’s not hard to see why the Brewers would take a shot on Vaughn. The veteran first baseman generally made good contact (13.3% Barrel% in 2025), not just this season but in past ones as well. He can catch up to fastballs and does have a roughly 50 grade power tool.

There are holes, obviously, in his game. Vaughn is an aggressive hitter who likes to chase with regularity. He doesn’t walk a lot, making him more reliant on his ability to make solid contact.

Milwaukee optioned Vaughn to Triple-A immediately after the deal.

Analysis

It’s a trade of two players who, realistically, needed fresh starts.

For Vaughn, the prospect of being in a new organization comes with perks: a fresh philosophy, and the ability to have better protection around him if he can work his way back to the Majors.

And while it is too early to look ahead, Vaughn could be in the first base conversation soon in Milwaukee if things go right. Rhys Hoskins is having a fine season, with a .774 OPS that ranks 12th among first basemen (min. 150 PA) in the league (for reference, Vaughn is 28th, last in the league). However, Hoskins has an $18MM mutual option with a $4MM buyout.

It’s more likely than not the buyout is not exercised, making Vaughn — who the Brewers reportedly view as a 1B/DH — an option moving forward.

As for the White Sox, Miguel Vargas has fit in nicely as an option at first base, rendering Vaughn as a secondary option. Chicago turns him into Civale, an arm who will slot in the White Sox’s rotation for now.

It’s an interesting move for the Sox, as Civale will be a free agent after the 2025 season. This is less about having an arm for the future. Rather, it’s more of a move designed to see what Civale can give the team now and possibly, what he could get for a return later this summer for a pitching-needy team.

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