Right-hander Colin Rea and the Chicago Cubs have finalized a $5 million, one-year contract.
The 34-year-old Rea has a $4.25 million salary for 2025, and the deal includes a $6 million club option for 2026 with a $750,000 buyout.
The team announced the agreement on Monday. Right-hander Michael Arias was designated for assignment to make room for Rea on the 40-man roster.
The move reunited Rea with Cubs manager Craig Counsell. Rea also pitched for the Cubs during the 2020 season, going 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in nine appearances, including two starts.
The 6-foot-5 Rea made one appearance with Milwaukee in 2021 and then pitched in Japan during the 2022 season before returning to the Brewers. He went 12-6 with a 4.29 ERA over 27 starts and five relief appearances for the NL Central champions last year.
Counsell managed Milwaukee for nine years before he was hired by Chicago in November 2023.
