Trouble in Milwaukee as Brewers Starter Aaron Civale Asks For Trade

It’s the sort of thing that happens all the time in the NBA, but not too often in Major League Baseball. Upset at being dropped from the Milwaukee Brewers' starting rotation, pitcher Aaron Civale has asked for a trade.

Aaron Civale has requested a trade from Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/NpCcTnmzcD
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 12, 2025

Civale was bumped from the rotation to make room for top prospect Jacob Misiorowski.

The 30-year-old, seven-year major league veteran, Civale has been a starter for all 122 of his MLB appearances, with the Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians. He has a career 4.06 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP, and an effective 8.1 K/9 vs a 2.4 BB/9.

Although he sports a 4.91 ERA this season, he has pitched well of late, with a 3.22 ERA over his last four starts since returning from injury.

He will be a free agent after the season, and the demotion will hurt his market value, says his agent, Jack Toffey, leading him to have a conversation with Brewers management. “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.

“Aaron is not angry or banging his fist on the table,” Toffey continued. “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.”

GM Matt Arnold is now "exploring options."

The Brewers have Freddy Peralta, Chad Patrick, Quinn Priester and José Quintana as their top four in the rotation, now to be joined by the youngster Misiorowski.