The Cubs secure Colin Rea with a smart extension, solidifying their 2026 rotation and gaining crucial flexibility for future moves.
The Chicago Cubs had until Thursday afternoon to accept Colin Rea’s one-year, $6 million club option for the 2026 season. Instead, the Cubs signed him to a one-year extension.
The Cubs agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million extension with Rea on Thursday, which locks him in Chicago for the entire 2026 season. This one-year contract extension will also feature a club option for the 2027 season.
Bringing back Rea for the 2026 season was a no-brainer. He was fantastic as both a starter and a reliever for the Cubs this past year and posted the best pitching numbers of his Major League career.
The 35-year-old finished with a 3.95 ERA and 127 strikeouts across 32 appearances (27 starts) for the North Siders in 2025. Rea also pitched well down the stretch, maintaining a 3.38 ERA and 52 strikeouts over the final two months of the regular season.
Bringing back Rea for only $6.5 million feels like a massive bargain for the Cubs. He can pitch in many different roles for this team and was a reliable rotation arm in the second half of the 2025 season.
With the Cubs declining Shota Imanaga’s three-year, $57 million club option and Justin Steele still working his way back from an elbow injury, re-signing Rea gives Chicago some flexibility as it heads into the start of free agency.
As it stands now, the Cubs' rotation consists of Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, and Rea to begin the 2026 season. When Steele is healthy enough to return, he will replace Assad/Rea in the rotation.
However, the Cubs should be in the market for another starting pitcher this winter. Even though Rea has agreed to an extension, Chicago could still look to add a pitcher through free agency or via a trade in the next few weeks.
It’s hard to imagine that Steele will be ready by Opening Day, and Rea could easily move to the bullpen if the front office acquires someone like Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, or Dylan Cease. At the end of the day, teams can never have enough starting pitching on their roster.
So, signing Rea to an extension was a nice move by the front office. Chicago locked him up for the entire 2026 season and has the option to retain him for the 2027 season. The veteran deserved another opportunity with the Cubs after a solid 2025 campaign.