The Brewers have placed right-hander Colin Rea on waivers, MLBTR has learned. He’s available for any club to claim. Rea has a $5.5MM club option for the upcoming season with a $1MM buyout.
It’s a surprising move, given the affordable nature of Rea’s option and the solid work he’s given to them over the past two seasons. The veteran righty has given Milwaukee 292 1/3 innings of 4.40 ERA ball since 2023, taking the ball 58 times and starting 49 games. Rea hasn’t been a top-of-the-rotation arm but has been a stabilizing presence amid myriad injuries and considerable turnover in the Brewers’ rotation. He’d have become a free agent if Milwaukee declined his buyout, but they’ll instead make a rather glaring cost-cutting move of waiving him to try to save that $1MM buyout in the event that another team claims him.
Any team in need of rotation help or perhaps an affordable swingman will now have the opportunity to claim Rea at the $5.5MM price point of his 2025 option. If he goes unclaimed, Milwaukee will seemingly pay that $1MM buyout, at which point Rea will become a free agent who’s able to sign with any club.
Given that he’s coming off a season that saw him pitch 167 2/3 innings with a 4.29 ERA, 18.9% strikeout rate and 6% walk rate, Rea should hold appeal to clubs seeking help at the back of the rotation — particularly lower-payroll clubs that have doubts over their ability to buy a comparable arm in free agency. One way or another, Rea will likely land on his feet, but it’s a tough pill to swallow for the righty, as he now has no say over choosing his next destination unless he surprisingly goes unclaimed and is subsequently bought out.
As a reminder, offseason waiver priority is based on the reverse standings from the 2024 season and is not league-specific. The White Sox will have first crack at claiming Rea, followed by the Rockies, Marlins, Angels, A’s, etc.
This is actually surprising. Did he do something for the club to sour on him? Was it bad attitude? They’re giving him the boot like when Iron Maiden gave Paul Di’Anno the boot after Killers.
The Brewers have alot of backend type guys, and Rea really struggled down the stretch. He was pushed to the pen by years end.
5 mil isn’t nothing for the Brewers. Surprised they couldn’t find someone willing to give up a lottery ticket though
His last start against the Mets.
5.2 IP
5 ER
10 hits
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Seems like the Angels will be the first team to jump on this.
This does feel like an Angels move, but I hope not, seeing as they just got rid of a similar pitcher in Canning.
Would love the Mets to pick him up as back of the rotation depth. Could non tender Blackburn with a clear upgrade over him/Megill
Back to his Country Music singing career !!
Is he better than Megill?
I think he’s a better choice than Blackburn given the current health issues.
Whoever brings him in better have a great defence. A lot of hard hit balls were turned into outs behind him all season.
I thought the brewers loved this guy but now he’s too expensive?
Doubt he gets claimed. If someone wanted the contract, he would have got traded.
Right. But something amiss then. Why would no one want that very affordable contract for a SP capable of 150+ innings?
Hello Arte. Not a bad mid late rotation option given the dearth of talent at a reasonable price.
Hmmm. At $5.5mm for 2025, the Brewers would seemingly have a player with some trade value. It’s almost not believable that no other team would be interested at that price point.
This isn’t all that surprising to me. MLBTR liked this guy more than anyone. He was a fine innings eater but there’s absolutely nothing special here and he faded down the stretch.
Brewers would probably rather spend $5MM on someone with more upside.