Colin

Rea

Rea is guaranteed $6.5 million and will make $13 million if the option is exercised. Much like last season, Rea will probably go into the spring penciled in as a middle reliever. However, he wound up making 27 starts and just five relief appearances in 2025, amassing a 3.95 ERA in the process.

The Cubs had a $6 million option to keep Rea for 2026, but the new deal will guarantee him $6.5 million and will be worth $13 million if the Cubs end up exercising the option for 2027. Rea, 35, went 11-7 with a 3.95 ERA in 27 starts and five relief appearances for the Cubs last season.

Rea got the call over Shota Imanaga, which was something the Cubs kind of signaled by going with the lefty opener in Drew Pomeranz; it wouldn’t have made much sense to follow a left-hander with another southpaw. Rea pitched scoreless second and third innings before giving up a homer to Andrew Vaughn with two outs in the fourth. He stayed in after that and gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases, but Daniel Palencia bailed him out at that point.

Rea allowed just two hits and struck out seven in one of his best showing in another quietly fine season; he ends up 11-7 with a 3.95 ERA and a 127/33 K/BB in 159 1/3 innings. As in 2024 when he was with the Brewers, his team is postseason bound, though he didn’t get to pitch last October. We’re guessing he’ll be on the Wild Card roster as a middle reliever, but it’s not assured, especially if the Cubs carry only 12 pitchers.

The 35-year-old right-hander scattered four hits on the evening and didn’t walk a batter. The lone tally against him came on an RBI double off the bat of Will Benson in the fourth inning. Aside from that, Rea was nearly perfect. He racked up 19 swings and misses on 93 pitches on the night, posting an elite CSW of 41 percent. Rea will look to finish the regular season strong as he brings a 4.10 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 120/43 K/BB ratio (153 2/3 innings) into Thursday’s matchup against the Mets.

Operating as a traditional starter, Rea carried a shutout into the fifth inning before coughing up a triple to Rays rookie Bob Seymour, who crossed the plate on a ground out later in the frame. He was saddled with a no-decision after Tampa Bay scratched two additional runs across the plate in the ensuing frame. He struck out five and didn’t hand out a free pass. He’ll take the ball on Thursday in a tough road matchup against the Reds at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.

Rea took over after Drew Pomeranz pitched a scoreless first and stayed in through the seventh before leaving with a 2-1 lead. The Nats came back in the ninth, so Rea didn’t get the win he deserved today. He’s a viable option in mixed leagues in a start against the Rays next weekend.

Rea wasn’t effective, but neither was Spencer Strider, so it’s a relatively-deserved no-decision. The 35-year-old has scuffled over his last four outings, and his ERA had bumped up to 4.30 from the 3.96 it sat at three starts ago. Not a huge surprise, honestly. He’ll try and get back on track Sunday against the Nationals.

Rea wasn’t the only pitcher for the Cubs who struggled — Chicago gave up a dozen runs in this contest — but he was a key culprit to the nine-run loss. He allowed eight hits, two walks and a homer in a start where he didn’t fool the San Francisco hitters whatsoever. Rea now has a 4.23 ERA on the season, and will try and get back on track versus Atlanta on Monday.

Rea avenged a July 29 loss to the team that let him go after last season. He actually walked five in the contest, but he allowed just three hits. He’s 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in four starts this month and 10-5 with a 3.96 ERA overall. He should face the Giants on the road next week.