The Chicago Cubs brought back familiar right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale on Saturday, acquiring the veteran from the Athletics in exchange for 22-year-old minor league right-hander Aiden Moffett.
Civale had wrapped up last season with the Cubs before signing with the Athletics as a free agent in February on a one-year deal worth $6 million. Oakland designated him for assignment on Wednesday before the trade was finalized.
The 31-year-old got off to a strong start with the Athletics, posting a 5-1 record and a 2.70 ERA through his first nine outings. However, things fell apart quickly — he put up an 8.25 ERA in three June starts and a 10.29 ERA across two July appearances, dropping his last six decisions. Overall with Oakland, Civale went 5-7 with a 5.42 ERA in 74 and two-thirds innings across 16 games, missing roughly three weeks along the way due to right shoulder tendinitis.
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay acknowledged the pitcher’s early success but noted the team couldn’t wait for a turnaround. “Civale had a great April for us,” Kotsay said. “But he wasn’t able to turn things around.”
Across his major league career, Civale owns a 48-51 record with a 4.26 ERA, 723 strikeouts, and 226 walks over 156 appearances — including 150 starts — with the Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox, Cubs, and Athletics. In his five relief outings with the Cubs last season, he went 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA over 13 innings.
Moffett, heading to the Athletics organization, has combined for a 1-2 record and a 10.07 ERA with 42 walks and 25 strikeouts in 22 and one-third innings across 17 relief appearances split between the Cubs’ Class-A Myrtle Beach affiliate and Rookie League squads.
The Athletics also made additional moves Saturday. Right-hander Justin Sterner, 29, was placed on the 15-day injured list with right knee chondromalacia. Sterner had appeared in 46 games this season, going 2-4 with one save, a 6.12 ERA, 13 walks, and 40 strikeouts in 42 and two-thirds innings.
To fill roster needs, Oakland selected the contract of right-hander Geoff Hartlieb from Triple-A Las Vegas. The 32-year-old is 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA and has appeared in four games this season. Over his career, Hartlieb is 2-2 with a 7.69 ERA across 72 relief appearances for seven different organizations since 2019.
The Athletics also designated first baseman and outfielder Joey Meneses, 34, for assignment. Meneses batted just .150 with two RBIs in nine games for Oakland this season. He spent parts of three seasons from 2022 to 2024 with the Washington Nationals, hitting .274 with 29 home runs and 165 RBIs in 286 games during that stretch.
