The Athletics are bolstering their pitching staff with a veteran addition, hoping to secure a playoff spot in 2026. They've signed right-hander Aaron Civale to a one-year, $6 million contract with incentives, as reported by ESPN. The team also signed Scott Barlow, and designated pitchers Grant Holman and Mitch Spence for assignment to make room for the new signings.
Civale is expected to compete for a spot in the A's rotation, joining Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, Luis Morales, and Jacob Lopez. Other contenders include J.T. Ginn, Gunner Hoglund, and Mason Barnett. The A's are playing their second season in West Sacramento's Sutter Health Park, aiming to break a five-year playoff drought, last appearing in 2020.
Last season, the A's had the fourth-highest team ERA in MLB at 4.70, and their starting pitchers had the fifth-fewest wins above average, at -2.6, according to Baseball Reference. Civale, 30, has primarily started games, with 134 of his 140 appearances over the past seven seasons. He began his career as a reliever, posting a 2.08 ERA with seven hits in 13 innings after being claimed by the Chicago Cubs in September 2023. Civale has a career record of 43-44 with a 4.14 ERA.
His best season came in 2023 with the Cleveland and Tampa Bay Rays, where he went 7-5 with a 3.46 ERA in 23 starts, allowing 109 hits in 122.1 innings. He was traded from Cleveland to the Rays at the deadline to help them make the playoffs. However, Civale struggled last season, falling out of Milwaukee's starting rotation after a 4.91 ERA in five starts and requesting a trade after being demoted to the bullpen. The White Sox acquired him in a trade with the Brewers, sending first baseman and outfielder Andrew Vaughn.
This story was originally published on February 10, 2026, at 2:45 PM.
