ARLINGTON -- There were new nameplates above a couple of lockers in the White Sox clubhouse before Saturday’s game with the Rangers -- starting pitcher Aaron Civale and first baseman Ryan Noda, both of whom were acquired by the club on Friday.
The White Sox grabbed the right-handed Civale, who posted a 4.91 ERA over 22 innings in five starts for the Brewers this season, in a Friday trade with Milwaukee. Chicago picked up Noda, a lefty, off waivers from Boston. Noda played in 51 games combined for the Angels and Red Sox affiliates this season, slashing .378/.519/.703 with seven homers in 13 games for Triple-A Worcester.
Both newly minted Sox will see action almost immediately, with Noda at first base and hitting seventh in Saturday's starting lineup and Civale scheduled to start Sunday’s series finale in Texas.
Civale and Noda each had a busy day Friday; Civale learned of the trade in the morning; Noda found out he was claimed that afternoon. Civale said he and his wife “packed up the whole house ... and hopped on a plane,” while Noda took a bus from Allentown, Pa., to Philadelphia, waited out a 100-minute delay at the airport and arrived at the team hotel at 2 a.m. Saturday.
“Nice and easy, smooth,” Noda quipped when asked about his journey.
“It’s been a lot,” Civale said.
Noda will be the 24th position player the White Sox have used this season; Civale will be their 27th pitcher. They’re rather accustomed to the “onboarding” procedure, manager Will Venable said.
“We have our process, and a lot of it is getting to know the guys, getting to know their skill sets, making sure that they know what we can do to support them, and just starting to build those relationships,” Venable said. “And I think that as many new people as we have had, we kind of maintain the same kind of feel of the player group.
"I think that's a credit to the guys that we have. It's a credit to the kind of guys that we're bringing in, and that part of it has been consistent and pretty seamless.”