Cubs Reunite with RHP Colin Rea on One-Year Deal

When you’re sliding into first and your pants begin to burst, Colin Rea. While the right-handed pitcher’s last name is actually pronounced “ray,” it’s way more fun to lead with that juvenile chant. As for the fit and what it could mean for the rest of the Cubs’ offseason pursuits, well, that might be a little less fun. Just like failing to reach an agreement with Kyle Tucker, this organization is having a very hard time shaking the cheap allegations.

Rea, a former Cub and Brewer, is reuniting with his old team and manager on a one-year, $5 million deal that will presumably see him serve as a swingman providing rotation depth. He is coming off a season with Milwaukee in which he set career highs in starts (27), appearances (32), and innings (167.2), all of which are attractive numbers for a Cubs team that may struggle to get length from its primary starters.

Rea doesn’t boast outstanding stuff and is prone to loud contact, so he’s probably best served as a long reliever who can be used situationally. But he will be used because this is a guaranteed deal that puts the Cubs over the limit on the 40-man, which means they’ll need to drop someone. I can imagine them trying to sneak recent acquisition Matt Festa through waivers to clear room.

Though it’s not a bad move in a vacuum, this just doesn’t strike me as a good fit for a team that needs a high-leverage reliever or two and a starter with big upside. As more of a low-leverage guy with a decent floor and pretty low ceiling, Rea checks none of those boxes. The other issue is that this eats up a good chunk of the Cody Bellinger savings that should be allocated to other needs.

I don’t hate it, but I don’t like it either. At all. Jed Hoyer had better have another strong move or three up his sleeve because he’s done little to meaningfully address multiple known issues.

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