2 months agoWith Chicago Cubs right-hander
Javier Assad currently dealing with a left-oblique injury, right-hander
Colin Rea could become the favorite to win the fifth spot in the Opening Day starting rotation. The team's top four starters entering the 2025 season should be lefties
Shota Imanaga,
Justin Steele and
Matthew Boyd, and right-hander
Jameson Taillon. In addition to Rea, righty
Ben Brown and left-hander
Jordan Wicks will be competing for a rotation spot if Assad's injury sidelines him into the regular season. The 34-year-old Rea appeared in 58 games (49 starts) for the Milwaukee Brewers the last two seasons and pitched to a 4.40 ERA (4.82 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with a 245:81 K:BB in 292 1/3 frames. He struggled to keep the ball in the yard, but given his experience in a starting role, he could have a leg up on a rotation spot if Assad's injury lingers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jordan Bastian
2 months agoAccording to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher
Colin Rea could see time in the rotation and the bullpen during the 2025 season. The Cubs signed Rea to a one-year contract worth $4.25 million earlier in the offseason. Bastian noted that Rea offers the Cubs protection as a potential swing-man. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress during spring training, as he will likely be competing with
Javier Assad for the final spot in the rotation. Last season, Rea appeared in 32 games with the Brewers and started in 27 of them. Under Craig Counsell during the 2023 season, Rea appeared in 26 games and started 22 of them. Last summer, he held a 4.29 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. He showed strong command with a six percent walk rate but generated strikeouts at a poor 18.9 percent rate. The 34-year-old is best left for deeper leagues as he may not have a defined role throughout most of the season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Bastian
3 months agoAccording to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, right-handed pitcher
Colin Rea has signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs worth $6 million. Earlier this offseason, the Brewers declined Rea's option. The 34-year-old has spent the past three seasons with the Brewers. Last summer, Rea spent most of the season operating out of the starting rotation but will likely be deployed out of the bullpen in Chicago, given their depth at starting pitching. Across 167 2/3 innings of work, Rea held a 4.29 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He showed strong command with a 6.0% walk rate but struggled to generate strikeouts as he posted an underwhelming 18.9% clip. He also generated a poor 4.91 xERA and .272 xBA, both well below the average marks. Rea could eventually join the rotation later in the season but is best left as a streaming option in deeper NL-only formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jesse Rogers
6 months agoThe Milwaukee Brewers are declining their 2025 club option on right-handed pitcher
Colin Rea, which sends him to free agency, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Rea started a career-high 27 games in 2024 and logged a career-high 167 2/3 innings in the process. He posted a 4.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, with a 43:115 BB:K ratio. The Indiana State product showed excellent command with a solid 6.0% walk rate, placing him in the 81st percentile among qualified hitters. However, he generated whiffs at a poor 19.3% rate and allowed hard contact at a hefty 42.0% rate. Fantasy managers should expect Rea to find a new home in 2025 serving as a back-end starting pitcher.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Adam McCalvy
RADIO
