Cubs Decline Colin Rea's $7.5M Option
Chicago declines pitcher Colin Rea's contract option for next season, sending him to free agency with a $1 million buyout.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Baseball
The Chicago Cubs declined a $7.5 million contract option on pitcher Colin Rea for next season, and he receives a $1 million buyout as part of the deal. Rea, 35, made 46 starts for the Cubs over the last two years.
Why it matters
The decision opens a spot in the Cubs' rotation mix and adds Rea to a group of pitchers the club must evaluate this offseason. Rea's role shifted to the bullpen in the second half of last season, a change that factored into the club's view of his value.
Rea went 8-8 with a 4.34 ERA over 137 innings last season, slightly better than his 4.40 career ERA across eight seasons. The source does not say whether the Cubs plan to re-sign him or how his role will be defined next year.
The players
Colin Rea
Colin Rea is a 35-year-old right-handed pitcher whose career has included stops with the San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers before his return to the Cubs.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Chicago that competes in the National League Central division.
The details
Rea finished second on the Cubs in innings pitched in each of his two seasons with the club and pitched out of the bullpen during the second half of last season. The team acquired starters Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes at the trade deadline in early August, changing the rotation picture.
Timeline
2020: Rea first pitched for the Cubs.
Early August last season: Cubs acquired Gausman and Holmes at the trade deadline.
Next season: The $7.5 million option would have covered Rea's salary.
Season Trajectory
The Cubs' trade-deadline additions of Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes reshaped their rotation, and declining Rea's option follows that shift. Rea's move from starter to bullpen reliever in the second half reflected that rearrangement.
Fantasy managers tracking Rea should note that his bullpen role in the second half lowers his projected innings load. The decision leaves Rea available to other clubs as he enters free agency.
The takeaway
Rea's case shows how a team's trade-deadline moves can quickly change a pitcher's role and contract outlook. Tracking roster changes around the deadline helps fans and fantasy players anticipate offseason decisions.
Further reading
Find more on the Baseball coverage that tracks Chicago's roster moves this offseason.
