Sox trade Andrew Vaughn to acquire Aaron Civale

[nrockway]

On 7/30/2025 at 6:50 AM, T R U said:

This is crazy

With the Sox in 48 games: 7 Walks, 48 K's

With the Brewers in 14 games: 7 Walks, 6 K's

I know its just a hot streak and he's not good, but damn this wasn't like a slow start then he heated up he basically got traded and was immediately awesome. Even his minor league numbers before his callup were solid.

I think you have to assume the Brewers had him make some sort of adjustment that has just taken off. He was not just struggling with us, he was downright atrocious.

What if being traded was just a wake-up call? I thought it was interesting how, last season, Vaughn was being marketed as a 'fan favorite' kind of guy...then a few weeks into this season, he says something like, "I'm struggling but I'm going to keep doing what I've always done because it's always worked".

I think he thought he was just punching a clock and there were never going to be consequences for his 'disappointing' play. That the front office and fans liked him a lot. So maybe now he's breaking out in Milwaukee because he's (correctly) thinking to himself, "I need to play better otherwise I won't be in the MLB much longer". 

Definitely think he's on a hot streak, he's not a 1.000 OPS player, but that he's also a better player than he showed during his time here. Maybe the Brewers are doing something different with him, but maybe he's just willing to do anything different at this stage of his career. In terms of his walks, the White Sox are much better at this aspect of the game than they were last year. They're actually one of the best teams in the league this season at it compared to last year when they were dead last. Even Lu, who hasn't taken a walk in about three months, is about double his career rate coming into the season (5.6% vs 10%). Meanwhile Vaughn halved his walk rate as a Sox this season and is doubling it up in Milwaukee. This season averages out to 6.1% while is slightly lower than his career rate.

So why did the Sox as a team get better (individually and holistically) at taking walks except Vaughn who got worse? I think it implies he wasn't listening to the coaches' instruction and now that he's been traded and potentially non-tendered, he's willing to listen. I think he's a good fit to have his contract picked up in Milwaukee with his play there. I think you'd rather have Vaughnie at ~10mil than Rhys Hoskins for $18mil if he can even OPS at his typical .730. Hope he can continue his play and I'm also glad he's not on our team anymore. Meadzy seazon approaching...

[caulfield12]

1 hour ago, nrockway said:

What if being traded was just a wake-up call? I thought it was interesting how, last season, Vaughn was being marketed as a 'fan favorite' kind of guy...then a few weeks into this season, he says something like, "I'm struggling but I'm going to keep doing what I've always done because it's always worked".

I think he thought he was just punching a clock and there were never going to be consequences for his 'disappointing' play. That the front office and fans liked him a lot. So maybe now he's breaking out in Milwaukee because he's (correctly) thinking to himself, "I need to play better otherwise I won't be in the MLB much longer". 

Definitely think he's on a hot streak, he's not a 1.000 OPS player, but that he's also a better player than he showed during his time here. Maybe the Brewers are doing something different with him, but maybe he's just willing to do anything different at this stage of his career. In terms of his walks, the White Sox are much better at this aspect of the game than they were last year. They're actually one of the best teams in the league this season at it compared to last year when they were dead last. Even Lu, who hasn't taken a walk in about three months, is about double his career rate coming into the season (5.6% vs 10%). Meanwhile Vaughn halved his walk rate as a Sox this season and is doubling it up in Milwaukee. This season averages out to 6.1% while is slightly lower than his career rate.

So why did the Sox as a team get better (individually and holistically) at taking walks except Vaughn who got worse? I think it implies he wasn't listening to the coaches' instruction and now that he's been traded and potentially non-tendered, he's willing to listen. I think he's a good fit to have his contract picked up in Milwaukee with his play there. I think you'd rather have Vaughnie at ~10mil than Rhys Hoskins for $18mil if he can even OPS at his typical .730. Hope he can continue his play and I'm also glad he's not on our team anymore. Meadzy seazon approaching...

Lake Michigan will be renamed Lake Mead (East)?

Meadzy looks too much like Getzy.

[WestEddy]

3 hours ago, nrockway said:

So why did the Sox as a team get better (individually and holistically) at taking walks except Vaughn who got worse? I think it implies he wasn't listening to the coaches' instruction and now that he's been traded and potentially non-tendered, he's willing to listen.

Or he was, and it takes a while for a change to feel natural in game situations. 

[fathom]

This is absurd. Good thing it hurts the Cubs, because if not….

[caulfield12]

12 homers now…27 rbis and 7 homers with MIL

Andrew Vaughn's 21 RBI are the most through a player's first 15 games with the Brewers in franchise history...and it's not even close.

Increased bat speed…

• Improved Plate Discipline:

  Vaughn is now better at identifying pitches he can drive, leading to more hard contact and line drives, particularly to the pull side. 

   
• Better Swing Decisions:

  He's become more selective at the plate, laying off pitches outside the strike zone and swinging at strikes, which has resulted in fewer strikeouts and more walks. 

   
• Increased Power:

  His improved swing decisions and hard-hit rate have translated to more extra-base hits and home runs. 

   
• More Balanced Offensive Profile:

  The Brewers have seen a more balanced approach from Vaughn, with his walk and strikeout rates now being equal (12.5%). 

Edited August 7 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

12 game hitting streak, 409 foot homer off Spencer Strider, 103 ev

Another RBI #28 inf ground out.

Current 44-16 sixty game stretch best in team history.

Make that 45-16, Blake Perkins a triple shy of the cycle.

Strider first time more than 3 er's in last 11 starts.  Jose Quintana (3.45) the beneficiary.

Aaron Bummer in, haha.

Edited August 7 by caulfield12

[JPR]

He got traded from the perennial worst team in baseball to the best team.  He will tail off as time goes on.  I’m sure he is enjoying being on an elite team opposed to a bottom feeder for years on end.  He’ll come back to the mean soon

[nrockway]

1 hour ago, WestEddy said:

Or he was, and it takes a while for a change to feel natural in game situations. 

Yeah who knows. I just wonder why he would go from the worst hitter in the league to immediately being very good. Did it just finally 'take hold'? Maybe. I would think any player would want to earn $10 million compared to zero dollars though. Unless they don't realize how bad the situation is...who knows what goes on in his head, but he was really fuckin bad and now he's pretty good.

[JPR]

I’m pretty sure if you are the best team in the majors, you have some great hitters around you.  That’s the opposite of the worst team in the American League.

[caulfield12]

 

"He has given Milwaukee’s productive, contact-oriented offense a much-appreciated injection of power, becoming a cult hero along the way. On Aug. 26, the first 10,000 Brewer fans at American Family Field will receive a “King Vaughn” giveaway T-shirt.

In a month’s time, Vaughn has gone from afterthought to lynchpin. It has been a remarkable turnaround, the quintessential change of scenery story.

“Putting guys in environments and situations that can allow them to express themselves, and they can handle it, is the difference.” Murphy explained. “And I think that us, giving Vaughn the chance, everything lining up, [Rhys] Hoskins going down, him getting that chance and being back in the big leagues in a new environment has kind of helped. I don't think it's too much more than that.”

 

And so, from 2021 to 2024 Vaughn was essentially a houseplant, a capable, yet unspectacular big-league hitter.

 

Then, this year, the wheels fell off. A former White Sox minor leaguer questioned Vaughn’s work ethic. Beneath the surface, there were encouraging signs in the batted ball data, but Vaughn’s overall body of work had become too unsavory to ignore.

"At this point, though, we can't just rely on the expected numbers," White Sox general manager Chris Getz told reporters the day after demoting Vaughn. "The level of production that we need to see out of him and that position needs to be better. There's some physical adjustments that can be made, and we're going to dive into that."

Two weeks later, Vaughn was a Brewer.

It was a change in scenery that also brought a change in philosophy. As Getz mentioned, the White Sox were most concerned with Vaughn’s hitting mechanics. The Brewers, however, unspooled a completely different strategy, one focused primarily on Vaughn’s approach at the plate."

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/brewers-andrew-vaughn-went-from-mlbs-least-valuable-player-to-swinging-one-of-hottest-bats-in-nl-171615420.html

Edited August 8 by caulfield12

[Harry Chappas]

On 8/6/2025 at 8:18 PM, fathom said:

This is absurd. Good thing it hurts the Cubs, because if not….

Funny thing.  I'm pulling for him to make their lives miserable the next few weeks.  Brewers and Twins never win come playoff time but its impacting the cub greatly.

I never cared one way or another about Vaughn but Brewers have always been second fiddle to Sox since Harvey's Wall Bangers to me and currently get my baseball time over the White Sox. 

[caulfield12]

On 8/7/2025 at 9:14 AM, JPR said:

I’m pretty sure if you are the best team in the majors, you have some great hitters around you.  That’s the opposite of the worst team in the American League.

That's just the thing.

Milwaukee has the least amount of power for a future playoff team going back all the way to the 2012-2014 Giants.  Kind of reminds me of the 2005 White Sox tbh...minus the homers.

Chourio and a reivigorated Yelich are/were the stars, Rhys Hoskins a Tier B veteran before injury...but hardly the type of hitters/lineup that light up the fantasy add lists.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIL/2025.shtml

Just a bunch of guys collectively OPS+ 100-135.

William Contreras into this season was the other top guy...but is dragging a bit this year.

Other than Vaughn and Perkins, nobody is playing out of their minds.

It's actually the pitching staff that makes the biggest difference by far.

Edited August 8 by caulfield12

[WestEddy]

16 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Then, this year, the wheels fell off. A former White Sox minor leaguer questioned Vaughn’s work ethic. Beneath the surface, there were encouraging signs in the batted ball data, but Vaughn’s overall body of work had become too unsavory to ignore.

The wheels fell off last year. He just got one wheel on the wheel studs, and it fell back off. 

[BamaDoc]

Remember Yermin Mercedes had a sandwich named after him.................

[wegner]

4 hours ago, BamaDoc said:

Remember Yermin Mercedes had a sandwich named after him.................

I thought I had so much time to try a Yerminator sandwich but it was only weeks.

My nephew did try it. He said it was good....ridiculous but tasty.

[Chick Mercedes]

Look, the old Sox would have held onto dysfunctioning players until death do they part. If the Sox lose the deal, I wouldn’t hate the thinking. Players that aren’t producing, lets have higher standards and move on. Most of time it’s gonna be the right move

[Kyyle23]

On 8/8/2025 at 2:57 PM, WestEddy said:

The wheels fell off last year. He just got one wheel on the wheel studs, and it fell back off. 

I don’t even really agree that there was some underlying data that showed he was coming out or had some positive things happening.  Dude was absolutely miserable to watch, he clearly did not want to be with the White Sox and everything was spiraling.  They called up Elko and he had like 3 games where he looked ok, and fell right back into AWFUL

[caulfield12]

3 hours ago, Kyyle23 said:

I don’t even really agree that there was some underlying data that showed he was coming out or had some positive things happening.  Dude was absolutely miserable to watch, he clearly did not want to be with the White Sox and everything was spiraling.  They called up Elko and he had like 3 games where he looked ok, and fell right back into AWFUL

A lot of the same body language as Pollock and Benintendi before deciding he was no longer going to take losing every game the second half last year.

The shoulder shrugs, slow jogs to first, head down, flailing away at low and outside sliders much like Robert…we can argue the Sox put the pressure on him to be the next leader and PR/community relations symbol, but he wasn’t really all that interested in embracing that role.

Sox should have done more background on his psyche/personality at CAL.

OFC winning solves 90% of clubhouse and so-called chemistry issues.

Edited August 10 by caulfield12

[WestEddy]

3 hours ago, Kyyle23 said:

I don’t even really agree that there was some underlying data that showed he was coming out or had some positive things happening.  Dude was absolutely miserable to watch, he clearly did not want to be with the White Sox and everything was spiraling.  They called up Elko and he had like 3 games where he looked ok, and fell right back into AWFUL

2024 and 2025 was the same thing. .474-.497 OPS in April, and .665-.618 OPS in May. 

That was a contributing factor to two terrible starts for the entire team. 

[Tony]

We’re getting to the point where this isn’t just a streak with Vaughn

 

[ChiSox59]

Good for AV. Happy for him. Sox have been much more interesting since he's been gone. 

[oldsox]

I bet Vaughn will not wear a White Sox hat when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame.

[WhiteSox2023]

1 hour ago, Tony said:

We’re getting to the point where this isn’t just a streak with Vaughn

 

Maybe Getz can trade for him once the Brewers offer him salary arbitration?

[pcq]

Have not missed him. He was born a Brewer. 

[nrockway]

3 hours ago, Tony said:

We’re getting to the point where this isn’t just a streak with Vaughn

 

I think it's a streak. He's going to finish the season at or below his career averages and negative WAR, won't he? The law of averages is undefeated. It's magic. He didn't suddenly become a superstar by moving 80 miles north. I doubt he woke up one day and said to himself, "I'd prefer to make $10 million dollars instead of 0 dollars -- I'm going to start trying at my job". Maybe a little bit, it was probably a wake up call, but at the end of the day, we've pretty much seen what kind of player he is...a pretty good player that can probably show a little more than what what we saw in Chicago. But he probably isn't an all-star or a top 50 hitter. He's done enough to have his option picked up, which is great. I'd take Pseudo-Vaughn over Rhys Hoskins at half the cost.

But it's 106 plate appearances with Milwaukee vs 2451 with us. It isn't really a sample size. He's facing an atypical amount of lefties. It's random. His stats were bound to average out and he seems to be in a really good environment for him. Watching him this year with us, it's not like he regressed. He looked the same. He was unlucky but pretty much the same guy. I'm not really watching the Brewers, but is he doing anything different? It might be a confidence/mental thing, but can that be sustained over the life of a post-arbitration contract?

We're seeing that 'deadline superstar' Eugenio Suarez is going to average out to a slightly above average hitter in line with his highly variable career averages, as such there's probably a reason he didn't net a huge return and why the Yankees didn't bother to give up anything for him and might've even preferred Ryan McMahon (who has been marginally better than Eugene, a whole 0.9 bWAR better since the trade).

These stats are very much influenced by minor perturbations, is there any actual reason to believe that Vaughn is a different player?  To his credit, he's hitting a lot of bombs not in line with his career averages. Is there evidence to suggest he can sustain it? I think to myself: I've watched him play ball for several years, is he all of a sudden "that guy"? Is team chemistry infectious like it was when Texas won the World Series?

I suspect nobody really knows what they're talking about in this sport (besides the people at FutureSox, shout out, lucky us; J Gonzalez is budding star though), sometimes guys just get hot for extended periods. Part of the reason baseball is the best sport, these things are just mystical. There's no understanding it. The physicists and materialists say the fastball cannot possibly rise, that gravity doesn't work that way, meanwhile baseball legend Mookie Betts says, "get in the batter's box and see for yourself". I think it's a streak.