White Sox add a veteran arm -- and Andrew Vaughn gets a fresh start -- in trade with Brewers

LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune on Jun 13, 2025

Published in Baseball

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ARLINGTON, Texas — The Chicago White Sox had heard of Aaron Civale’s desire to remain a starting pitcher.

They reached out to the Milwaukee Brewers to see if the right-hander was attainable.

“More or less doing a status check on that situation,” Sox general manager Chris Getz said during a conference call on Friday, “in which they were open to different ideas.”

The Sox landed on sending first baseman Andrew Vaughn to the Brewers on Friday for Civale and cash consideration.

“In the spirit of it all, it’s really about protecting our younger arms,” Getz said. “Shane Smith, (Jonathan) Cannon, (Davis) Martin and Sean Burke as well — to be able to perhaps combat some of the mileage that we’re putting on some of these younger arms with a seasoned veteran like Civale, someone that’s pitched in full seasons as a starter at the major-league level, pitched in playoffs.

“He’s happy about being in a starting rotation. He’s spoken publicly about wanting to be in a rotation. We’re able to provide that. There’s upside in protecting our young arms and we’ll see where Civale takes this opportunity. But we’re excited to have him.”

For Vaughn, it’s a fresh start.

The Sox selected Vaughn with No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft, and he had been a prominent component of the Sox lineup since arriving in the majors in 2021. But he got off to a slow start this season and the Sox optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte on May 23.

“He had some really good moments, some good stretches, but also came with some struggles,” Getz said. “We sent him to Triple A to work on his offensive game. With players like Vaughn where there’s so much pressure on the bat, it can become an issue in regards to managing a roster with some of the positional limitations. There is future production at the major league level for Andrew Vaughn, I really believe in that.

“However, with how we’re trying to put together our roster and balance it lefty and righty, defensive versatility and where Vaughn is in his White Sox career contractually (one more year of arbitration eligibility followed by free agency), it did make some sense to look at ways to help our team currently in finding an arm.”

In Civale, the Sox are getting a pitcher with plenty of experience in the American League Central.

Civale, 30, is 40-37 with a 4.06 ERA and 596 strikeouts in 122 career starts over seven major league seasons with Cleveland (2019-2023), Tampa Bay (2023-24) and Milwaukee (2024-25). He is 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA and 19 strikeouts in five starts for the Brewers this season. He began 2025 on the injured list with a strained left hamstring.

The Athletic reported on Thursday that his agent had asked Milwaukee to deal Civale rather than use him in a relief role.

“You usually operate with a five-man rotation, (the trade) gives us options to get a little creative in regards to a six-man rotation, or opportunities to skip starts,” Getz said. “More than anything, it’s someone that can come in, will be starting for us, we don’t question that. It’s just a matter of being able to keep the rest of our starting group healthy.”

Vaughn, 27, has had a disappointing 2025 season, hitting .189 with five home runs and 19 RBIs in 48 games. He has a .248/.303/.407 slash line with 77 home runs and 293 RBIs in 610 career games during five seasons with the Sox. Tim Elko has handled the bulk of the duties at first base since being recalled from Charlotte on June 4.

The Brewers assigned Vaughn to Triple-A Nashville.

“We do wish Andrew well,” Getz said. “He’s been a leader in our clubhouse. He’s been productive and it’s my job to look out for the health of this organization and we feel like this was a move to really support that.”

Civale is the second veteran right-handed pitcher to join the Sox in recent weeks. The club signed Adrian Houser, who is scheduled to start Friday’s series opener against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, to a one-year deal on May 20.

The Sox have an opening in the rotation after placing Cannon on the 15-day injured list on June 3 with a lower back strain. He’s expected to go on a rehab assignment soon.

Getz said the trade was “fairly unrelated” to Cannon’s status, “Just because we do know that Cannon will be back here shortly.”

“We have been putting a lot of stress on the bullpen, having to cover a spot in the rotation,” Getz said. “But this is an opportunity to get ahead of issues that may pop up throughout the year.

“The motivation of the move was to be able to protect our young arms, not necessarily a move to help in the immediate, but more the future weeks and months ahead of us knowing that we’ve got someone that we really feel can handle the load and pitch some quality innings for us.”