Brewers Manager Discusses Aaron Civale’s Transition

Pat Murphy, the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, is currently making some tough decisions regarding Aaron Civale’s role with the team.

“He has the right to feel how he wants to feel,” Murphy stated, “But now it’s time for him to act.”

These remarks come after the announcement that Civale, a veteran starter, will be shifting to a bullpen position.

Interestingly, Civale, who just turned 30 on Thursday, seems to be less than pleased with this news—definitely not a demotion he’d have hoped for on his birthday.

Murphy reassured reporters that the team still sees potential in Civale. “If we ask him to pitch for us, he has to go on the pitch for us,” he commented, adding, “and I think he’ll rise to the occasion.”

Up until now, Civale has posted a 4.91 ERA over five starts, which happens to be the highest among the Brewers’ starting pitchers.

This underperformance leaves him at risk since the Brewers are poised to promote Jacob Misiorowski, currently ranked as their No. 4 prospect by Mlb.com.

It’s worth noting that this is Civale’s final year under contract with the Brewers, and, as he mentioned through his agent, Jack Toffy, the move to the bullpen has certainly added to his discontent.

From a broader perspective, his concerns are quite understandable, especially considering that starting pitchers generally earn more than relievers. A shift away from starting could impact his free agency prospects.

On the bright side, many teams are actively looking for starting pitching ahead of the trade deadline. Organizations like the Yankees, Cubs, and Twins might be on the lookout for arms to bolster their rotations. This could provide a glimmer of hope for Civale and possibly lead to new opportunities.

But for now, fans will just have to watch him from the bullpen.