Colin Rea stays with Milwaukee Brewers, agrees to $4.5 million 1-year contract
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Right-hander Colin Rea stayed with the Milwaukee Brewers rather than explore the free-agent market, agreeing Thursday to a $4.5 million, one-year contract that could be worth up to $10 million over two seasons.
Rea gets a $3.5 million salary next season, and the deal includes a $5.5 million team option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout. He can earn $500,000 annually in performance bonuses based on innings: $75,000 each for 80 and 100, $100,000 for 120 and $250,000 for 140.
If the 2025 option is declined, Rea's contract specifies he can become a free agent.
The 33-year-old was eligible for free agency and could have started negotiations with any team next Monday.
After making just one major league appearance in 2021 and spending last season with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan's Central League, Rea agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year deal with the Brewers and went 6-6 with a 4.55 ERA in 26 games. He earned $500,000 in performance bonuses based on innings.
Rea helped stabilize a starting rotation that was dealing with multiple injuries the first half of the season. Rea’s 22 starts ranked fourth on the team, and the Brewers went 14-8 in those games while winning their second NL Central title in three years.
Rea set career highs in wins, appearances, starts, innings (124 2/3) and strikeouts (110). He is 14-14 with a 4.74 ERA in five major league seasons that includes stints with San Diego (2015-16), Miami (2016) , the Chicago Cubs (2020) and the Brewers (2021, '23).
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The Associated Press
