The Milwaukee Brewers are trying to claw their way back into the National League Central and Wild Card race. However, in a shocking move, the Brewers called up their top pitching prospect, Jacob Misiorowski, and moved Aaron Civale to the bullpen.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon revealed that Civale has requested a trade from the Brewers after they took him out of the rotation. The Brewers already had a surplus of starting pitchers. Logan Henderson has made three starts for the team and posted a 1.71 ERA, and even he was sent down to Triple-A because the Brewers had Civale, Freddy Peralta, José Quintana, Chad Patrick and Quinn Priester. The Brewers also have Tobias Myers in Triple-A and Brandon Woodruff and Nestor Cortes on the injured list.
"Aaron is not angry or banging his fist on the table," Civale's agent Jack Toffey said, according to 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."
The Brewers' decision to go with Misiorowski over Civale is what makes the situation confusing. Civale has made all of his career regular-season outings as a starter, so moving him to the bullpen was a strong ask, especially in a contract year. He had a 3.23 ERA since returning from the injured list. The Brewers acquired him last season, and he was pitching well in their five-man rotation.
Civale has been the Brewers' choice over Henderson, essentially, despite three phenomenal starts by Henderson. The Brewers would likely have moved him to the bullpen anyway when Woodruff returned, but to do it now, in favor of a prospect, albeit a great one, is bizarre.
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"It's not necessarily he hasn't been pitching well, because he has been," Brewers manager Pat Murphy told MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. "It's just think that we think he's the best candidate to be able to do it right now."
Civale might not be the only Brewers pitcher getting moved. The Brewers have their four arms in the rotation right now, plus capable starters in Triple-A.
"I've heard from other teams, through their channels of communication, that they have a plethora of starting pitchers and are looking for trade partners, maybe not just Aaron, but maybe another pitcher," Toffey told The Athletic. "That's my understanding."
When Henderson was pitching, it was in the wake of injuries. The fact that the Brewers are moving someone out of the rotation for Misiorowski points to the team planning to keep him in the big leagues. However, when Woodruff returns, the Brewers will once again have to move a pitcher to the bullpen or commit to a six-man rotation.
Misiorowski is the No. 68 overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He will make his debut on Thursday and try to earn his keep in the rotation.
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