Chicago (AP) — Colin Rea, a right-hander, and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract. The 34-year-old Rea will earn $4.25 million in 2025, with a $6 million club option for 2026 and a $750,000 buyout clause. The team announced the arrangement on Monday. Right-handed pitcher Michael Arias was designated for assignment to create room for Rea on the 40-man roster.
The trade reunited Rea with Cubs manager Craig Counsell. Rea also pitched for the Cubs in 2020, finishing 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in nine games, including two starts. The 6-foot-5 Rea appeared once with the Brewers in 2021, then threw in Japan in 2022 before returning to Milwaukee. He went 12-6 with a 4.29 ERA in 27 starts and five relief appearances for the NL Central champions last season. Counsell led Milwaukee for nine years before being recruited by Chicago in November 2023.
Rea became a free agent after Milwaukee declined the $5.5 million club option on his contract in November. The Iowa native received a $1 million buyout. San Diego drafted Rea in the 12th round of the 2011 amateur draft from Indiana State. He made his MLB debut with the Padres in 2015. He pitched with the Cubs in 2020, finishing 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in nine games, including two starts. Arias, 23, pitched for Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa last season, finishing 6-2 with a 4.77 ERA in 49 relief appearances.
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