The Cubs have added righty Colin Rea to their 40-man roster, as first reported by MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian (via Twitter). That move will allow the organization to retain his rights, rather than losing him to minor-league free agency.
Righty Allen Webster was outrighted, the club added in its announcement. As was already a given, the team picked up its $16.5MM option over first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
Rea inked a minor-league deal with the Cubs and spent the entire 2019 season at Triple-A. In 148 innings there, he pitched to a 3.95 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9. The Cubs will be able to control Rea for the league-minimum salary in 2020; while he has enough overall MLB service time for Super Two status, he didn’t spend any time on the active roster last year and is therefore ineligible.
why didnt they do this during the season?
Didn’t have a spot
they probably could have used him in the pen over at least a few other guys.
You really think Colin Rea would’ve been this difference?
I just remember him for being part of that really weird Andrew Cashner trade with the Marlins trade where he was secretly injured and they had to send him back to San Diego.
Imagine if the Pads got to keep Castillo and Naylor. that trade would’ve been even greater for them.
Guess Webster finding his velocity in Japan from early years didn’t help. Don’t remember seeing any of the games he was in for the Cubbies. Did he ever learn to pitch on the inside part of the plate with them. He was always afraid to when in boston, even when was able to touch upper 90’s. No good to throw that hard when give away half the plate.
That’d be 2019 PCL ERA champ, Colin Rea.