Milwaukee Breweries i Chicago Cubs they are fierce rivals due to their geographical proximity. Last offseason, Craig Counsell fanned the flames of said rivalry by turning down Milwaukee and their contract offer to take the manager’s job in Chicago. Of course, the Brewers defeated the Cubs last season to win their second straight NL Central Division title.
Additionally, Pat Murphy, who was Counsell’s bench coach, became the first captain in team history to win NL Manager of the Year honors.
Since the founding of the Brewers franchise in 1969 (Seattle Pilots), 167 different Major League players have played in both Milwaukee and Chicago. That number won’t change next season, but one former Cub is returning to the team after his time with the Brewers.
Former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Colin Rea has signed with the Chicago Cubs
This was announced today Colin Reywho was untendered by Milwaukee earlier this winter, signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Cubs.
Free agent right-hander Colin Rea i #Young they agreed to a one-year deal worth $5 million, I’m told.
— Steve Adams (@Adams_Steve) January 10, 2025
Last season, Rea was one of the most vital players in Milwaukee’s starting rotation. With many pitchers dealing with injuries for varying periods of time, he was a constant.
Rea finished second on the team behind Freddy Peralta with 27 starts in 2024. It was the best season of his career, going 12-6 with a 4.29 ERA.
After appearing in one game for Milwaukee in 2021, Rea spent the 2022 season in Japan. In his two seasons with the Brewers since returning to the Majors, he was 18-12 with an ERA of 4.40.
Rea already played for the Cubs in 2020.
Milwaukee Brewers fans react to Colin Rea signing with the Chicago Cubs
While Rea certainly isn’t as devastating a pitcher as, say, Corbin Burnes, he was both effective and reliable in 2024. Fans aren’t exactly thrilled at the prospect of facing him in a Cubs uniform:
Colin Rea joined the Dark Side https://t.co/z5Qx8pmEkG
— Beer Review (@ReviewngTheBrew) January 10, 2025
Colin Rea remains in the NL Central… https://t.co/yTwBSSAbO2
— David Gasper (@dgasper24) January 10, 2025
#oldfriend #newenemy https://t.co/LPQfBh2QI2
— Brewer Nation (@BrewerNation) January 11, 2025
Very conflicted https://t.co/BXjMKji0HK
— John “BrewersRaptor” Egan (@BrewersRaptor) January 10, 2025
Colin Rea is officially an opponent. I hope you face a fall like Boxberger did when he left for the Cubs. 🤞🏻🤞🏻 https://t.co/3XnjRStMFk
— Josh (@Conxeptt) January 10, 2025
Boxberger’s decline is a reference to Brad Boxberger, who went 9-7 with a 3.15 ERA in 141 games for the Brewers in two seasons with the team. He left Milwaukee for Chicago in 2023, where he went 0-1 with a 4.95 ERA in 22 games.
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