CI had heard a while back that Colin Rea’s return was likely, and we got confirmation of that this morning from MLBTR’s Steve Adams. It’s a restructured deal that will pay the righty swingman $6.5 million in 2026 with a club option for the same amount in 2027. The $5 million deal Rea signed last offseason carried a $6 million club option with a $750,000 buyout, so he gets a little more money and the Cubs get a relatively cheap insurance plan.
That was the idea last season as well, though many — present company included — were a little skeptical of it at the time.