Who would have thought that by October many Chicago Cubs fans would be demanding that Craig Counsell start Colin Rea over Shōta Imanaga in the postseason? I certainly wasn't and although it didn't quite work out in Game 5 of the NLDS, Rea did become an unsung hero during the 2025 season. Now, the Cubs have rewarded the veteran pitcher with an extension that could bring Rea back to the team in 2027.
Rea originally signed a one-year guaranteed contract with the Cubs last offseason that also included a $6 million option for 2026. On Thursday, Rea and the Cubs negotiated a new deal that will now pay him a guaranteed salary of $6.5 million for the 2026 season and $13 million overall if he's retained in 2027.
The new contract is broken down like this: 2026 guaranteed salary of $5.5 million, $1 million buyout on a $7.5 million option for 2027.
So, at the end Rea earned himself an extra $500,000 of guaranteed money. The right-hander ended the 2025 season with a 3.95 ERA in 159.1 innings. He made 27 starts, second most on the team, and was actually pretty damn good since the end of June. In his final 15 starts, Rea had a 3.56 ERA in 86 innings with a 1.13 WHIP and 3.51 FIP. He did a good job of keeping the ball in the park and overall limited the hard contact against him.
Rea also pitched well in the playoffs, posting a 1.17 ERA in 7.2 innings over three games.
He certainly wasn't a popular signing at the time, but Rea proved to be more than serviceable for the Cubs in 2025. The veteran filled in for several starters who were injured throughout the year and he made significant strides down the stretch that make you feel good about his future with the Cubs.
Rea will once again slot in as a back-end option in the rotation in 2026.
Cubs Sign Colin Rea Heading into 2025
In theory, signing free agent pitcher Colin Rea is perfectly fine, but if he ends up being the final piece added to the team's starting rotation this offseason, then Cubs fans should rightfully be pissed off.
Who knows, maybe the Cubs are still working on a trade for a guy like Pablo Lopez and adding Rea to the pitching staff ensures the roster remains properly equipped with depth in case other guys get moved. ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported on Friday that the Cubs and Rea agreed to a contract that includes an option for the 2026 season.
One year plus a club option for 2026. https://t.co/Pn0Ha5EgLL
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 10, 2025
Rea, who has pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers the past two seasons and three of the last four (Rea spent 2022 in Japan) is guaranteed $5 million with the Cubs. Right now, it's not clear if a buyout for the 2026 option is included in that $5 million salary.
Free agent right-hander Colin Rea and the #Cubs have agreed to a one-year, $5MM deal, I’m told.
— Steve Adams (@Adams_Steve) January 10, 2025
Rea was briefly with the Cubs, appearing in nine games with the club during the 2020 season. The righty struggled in 14 innings, posting a 5.79 ERA that year.
The 34-year-old is coming off his best year in MLB, recording career highs in innings pitched with 167.2 and starts with 27. He made an additional five relief appearances for the Brewers in 2024.
Rea put up decent numbers, a 4.29 ERA accompanied by a 3/1 K/BB ratio. He's a serviceable back of the rotation pitcher and could be used as a swingman as well. The problem is, the Cubs have supposedly been looking for a bigger impact arm for the starting rotation and well, Colin Rea is not that.
You obviously hope that this isn't it for the rotation because although the team now has plenty of depth, you certainly wouldn't say the front office accomplished their goal of adding a premier starter with 1-2 upside.
So, fingers crossed that the Cubs are indeed still working to add another starting pitcher because otherwise this would be a giant disappointment entering spring training next month.
A quick look at the starting caliber pitchers on the Cubs' current roster: Justin Steele, Shōta Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, Colin Rea, Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Ben Brown. Plus, the Cubs have top pitching prospect Cade Horton and rising pitching prospect Brandon Birdsell waiting in the wings at Triple-A.
