MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

The Athletics continue to upgrade its roster this off-season, picking up much needed pitching as the Pitchers and Catchers report to 2026 Spring Training.

On Tuesday, RHP Aaron Civale signed a one-year, $6 million deal, with an additional $1.5 million in potential incentives, and according to Manager Mark Kotsay will likely be slotted as the A’s #3 starter in their rotation.

Also on Tuesday, right-handed relief pitcher Scott Barlow signed his own one-year, $2 million contract, with $1.3 in performance bonuses, and with the addition, Kotsay added depth and consistency to his bullpen.

To make way on the 40-man roster, the A’s DFA’d (designated for assignment) right-handed relievers Grant Holman and Mitch Spence, both of whom carried ERA’s over 5.00 in 2025.

Civale is a six-year veteran who has played for six different organizations, including the Milwaukee Brewers, and both the Chicago White Sox and Cubs in 2025. Struggling for consistency last season, he went (4-9, 4.85 ERA) with the three teams, and looks to make a fresh start in the California capital.

Civale has a career (43-44) record, with a 4.14 ERA, in 140 games (135 starts) and paints corners with an above-average curve, and cutter. He won’t overpower hitters, as his four-seam fastball hovers around 92 mph, so he uses a mixture of sinkers that also hit 92 on-the-gun, keeping hitters off-balance.

One concern would be how his style of pitching translates at Sutter Health Park. His “airball rate” is over 65% which could be an issue in the hitting-friendly confines of the West Sacramento ballpark.

With his addition, the order appears to be Luis Severino (#1), Jeffrey Springs (#2), and Civale firmly third in the rotation. From there, last year’s two rookies, Jacob Lopez (7-7, 4.08) and Luis Morales (4-3. 3.14), look to build on strong 2025 showings and they are the front-runners for the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation.

JT Ginn had 16 starts last season and will fight for a spot in the rotation. Overall his season was a struggle, finishing (4-7, 5.08 ERA) but the Athletics won five of his last seven starts, and he looks to carry that into Spring Training.

Others with experience starting games include Jack Perkins, Mason Barnett, and Gunnar Hoglund. They could challenge for the #5 spot in the rotation. It is a long season and these players may see a start here and there, as injuries occur.

Barlow, a 2011 6th-round Draft Pick of the LA Dodgers out of high-school, played the 2025 season for the Cincinnati Reds finishing with a (6-3) record and a 4.21 ERA. At 6’3, 210, his four-seam fastball has an exceedingly high spin-rate (around 2500 rpm) but his velocity did dip slightly last year. His 84-mph slider is a swing-and-miss pitch for him and his curveball keeps batters off-balance at pedestrian 75-mph.

Barlow is a steady arm that has appeared in 60 or more games in six of the last seven years and is known as a swing-and-miss pitcher. Avoiding hard contact is his specialty which is mandatory at Sutter Health Park.

Having recently secured SS Jacob Wilson, and LF Tyler Soderstrom with long-term contracts, the Athletics are building a strong team for the future, and Tuesday showed the A’s haven’t finished building a roster that is expected to make the 2026 Playoffs.