The Milwaukee Brewers called up top prospect Jacob Misiorowski on Tuesday. The 6-foot-7 flamethrower is bumping veteran right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale out of the rotation, and Civale reportedly wants out rather than to pitch in relief for the Brewers.
Civale, 30, has asked Milwaukee for a trade, The Athletic reported Thursday.
After the Brewers told Civale he was headed to the bullpen, Civale’s agent, Jack Toffey, went to Milwaukee general manager Matt Arnold.
“The conversation was very professional,” Toffey said Thursday, via The Athletic. “I just very respectfully said that Aaron would really like an opportunity to continue his career as a starter. He’s going to be a free agent at the end of the year.”
Toffey relayed to The Athletic that Arnold informed him that the team was “exploring options.”
Although Civale made a relief appearance in Game 1 of last year’s wild-card series against the New York Mets, he’s started all 122 regular-season games he’s played in during his seven-year MLB career.
“Aaron is not angry or banging his fist on the table,” Toffey told The Athletic. “But it’s a little confusing because he did not pitch his way out of the rotation whatsoever.
“It’s more of a subjective choice the organization is making.”
Civale strained his left hamstring in his first appearance this season, but he’s logged a 3.32 ERA across the four starts he’s made since returning on May 22.
The Brewers, currently third in the NL Central, traded for Civale last July. In exchange, the Tampa Bay Rays received minor-league infielder Gregory Barrios. Civale enjoyed a smooth transition back to the Midwest, where he started his MLB career with the Cleveland Guardians. The East Windsor, Connecticut, native went 6-3 with a 3.53 ERA in his 14 starts after joining the Brewers in 2024.
Civale is earning $8 million, tied with Freddy Peralta for the highest salary among Brewers pitchers, according to The Athletic.
Civale will be replaced in the rotation by Misiorowski, who is equipped with a fastball that’s got a 103 mph ceiling. The Blue Springs, Missouri, native quickly climbed the ranks of the Brewers’ minor-league system after the now-23-year-old was drafted in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
In 63 1/3 innings with the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate this year, Misiorowski has posted a 2.13 ERA and 80 strikeouts.
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