The Cubs re-signed Rea to a one-year, $5.5 million contract with a $7.5 million club option for 2027 on Thursday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The buyout on the 2027 option is $1 million, so Rea will be guaranteed at least $6.5 million. The Cubs had held a $6 million option on Rea for 2026, but instead he will get slightly more guaranteed money, while the Cubs will pick up an additional year of control. Rea put up a 3.95 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 127:44 K:BB over 159.1 regular-season innings for the Cubs in 2025. He'll likely open 2026 at the back end of the rotation, though he could shift to a swingman role if the team makes multiple other additions.

Rea (0-1) was charged with the loss in Game 5 of the NLDS against Milwaukee on Saturday. He allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 2.2 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Drew Pomeranz started the game for Chicago and allowed one run in one inning. Rea entered in the second frame and got through two scoreless innings before serving up a solo homer to Andrew Vaughn in the fourth. That was the only run Rea allowed, but it was enough to saddle him with the loss as the Cubs were unable to score after the second frame. Rea finished the postseason having pitched in three games, giving up just one run over 7.2 innings despite yielding nine hits and posting a 3:3 K:BB.

Rea (11-7) earned the win against the Cardinals on Friday, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out seven over 5.2 scoreless innings.

EDGE Analysis

Rea was sharp, pounding the zone with 56 of 77 pitches for strikes and racking up 13 whiffs. The 35-year-old snapped a winless skid dating back to Aug. 20 despite limiting opponents to three earned runs or fewer in each of his past five outings. He closes the regular season with a career-best 3.95 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 127:44 K:BB across 159.1 innings.

Rea (10-7) allowed one run on four hits and struck out 11 without walking a batter over seven innings, taking the loss Thursday versus the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Rea was excellent, limiting the damage to a Will Benson RBI double in the fourth inning, but that was the lone run of the game. The Cubs offered Rea no support, as they got one-hit by Reds starter Hunter Greene a day after clinching a playoff spot. Rea picked up his first quality start since Aug. 9 versus the Cardinals, and this was the first time he's logged double-digit strikeouts all season. He's now at a 4.10 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 120:43 K:BB through 153.2 innings over 31 appearances (26 starts) this season. He'll likely get the chance to tie his career high in starts next week with his last projected outing of the regular season set to be at home versus the Mets.

Rea allowed three runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Rea held the Rays scoreless through four frames before giving up a run in the fifth. The right-hander then allowed the first two batters he faced in the sixth to reach base, and both ended up scoring. Rea did induce a healthy 13 whiffs and notched five punchouts, but the disappointing finish to his start kept him from completing six frames for the sixth straight outing. He's slated to take on Cincinnati in his next appearance.

Rea allowed just one run on three hits across 5.1 innings but did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Nationals. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Rea was the second Chicago pitcher to enter the game, following opener Drew Pomeranz, who lasted an inning. The former pitched well after having allowed nine earned runs across 8.2 innings in his previous two appearances, and he lowered his ERA to 4.20 with the improved effort. With Jameson Taillon (groin) and Michael Soroka (shoulder) both currently on the shelf, Rea figures to remain in the rotation as the Cubs' fifth starter. He lines up to take the hill again Saturday against the Rays.

Rea did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over four innings against Atlanta. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

Rea was unimpressive Monday, failing to get through five innings and allowing plenty of traffic on the bases. The right-hander has shown signs of wearing down lately, pitching to a 5.03 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 34 innings in his last seven outings. He's slated to take the ball again Sunday against Washington.

Rea (10-6) took the loss against San Francisco on Wednesday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 4.2 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Rea fell behind quickly; Rafael Devers knocked his seventh pitch of the game over the outfield wall for a solo homer. Rea managed to get through a scoreless second frame, but things unraveled for him in the third, when the Giants got to him for three runs despite managing just two hits. The right-hander gave up three more runs (two of which were earned) in the fifth and was pulled before he could finish the frame. The poor outing snapped a string of four straight starts in which Rea had surrendered two or fewer earned runs. He's been middling overall this year with a 4.23 ERA through 132 innings, but he's been prone to blow-ups, giving up five or more earned runs in an appearance on five different occasions.

Rea (10-5) earned the win Wednesday against the Brewers, allowing two runs on three hits and five walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

Rea gave the Cubs at least five innings while conceding a lone run in his third straight start, although he issued a season-high five walks. Only 53 of the right-hander's 96 pitches landed for strikes, though he did manage to keep the ball in the yard for a fifth consecutive outing. Rea will bring a quality 3.96 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 93:38 K:BB across 127.1 frames into his next scheduled appearance, which is set to come next week in San Francisco.

Rea did not factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Pirates, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts over five innings.

EDGE Analysis

Rea allowed one run in the fourth inning but was otherwise sharp, generating 13 whiffs on 87 pitches and limiting the Pirates to one extra-base hit. The 35-year-old has surrendered just four runs over three August starts, though he's failed to complete more than five frames in five of six outings since the All-Star break. He'll take a 3.99 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 90:33 K:BB across 121.2 innings into a home matchup with the Brewers next week.