If you’re a Milwaukee Brewers fan, you’re probably well-acquainted with Colin Rea’s contributions over the past two seasons. In 2024, Rea was one of just 58 pitchers to qualify for the ERA title, and he ranked second among Brewers pitchers in starts, innings, wins, and strikeouts, trailing only Freddy Peralta.
For non-Brewers fans, the news of Rea signing a one-year, $5 million deal with the Chicago Cubs might prompt questions like, “Is this the guy the Padres tried to trade with a torn UCL? Or the one who went to Japan?”
In a market where starting pitching is scarce, Rea’s deal stands out. He logged 167 2/3 innings last season—a feat few pitchers achieved—and yet secured just a modest $5 million. For perspective, more people summited Mt. Everest in 2024 than qualified for the MLB ERA title. So why did Rea’s market value seem so low?
The Cubs’ decision to sign Rea makes sense in context. While Chicago let Kyle Hendricks walk, their rotation still appears deep. They acquired Cody Poteet in the Cody Bellinger trade, and while Poteet wasn’t necessarily a critical piece, the Cubs now have plenty of options.
Their rotation already includes four pitchers—Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and another returning starter—who each surpassed 130 innings in 2024. While the Cubs may lack a true ace, these arms are solid enough to start playoff games.
The Cubs also bolstered their rotation by signing lefty Matthew Boyd. Though Boyd made just eight regular-season starts in 2024, he gained postseason experience with three starts for the Guardians. Interestingly, Boyd’s playoff record (three starts, zero wins) mirrors that of the Cubs’ entire rotation over the past seven seasons.
While Rea’s addition may not be flashy, his durability and innings-eating capability offer stability to a Cubs rotation that’s preparing for the grind of another season—and potentially the postseason.
