Cubs designate young pitcher for assignment to clear room for Colin Rea
The Cubs made the Colin Rea signing official Monday morning.
In a corresponding move, Michael Arias was designated for assignment.
Arias is a 23-year-old right-hander who has yet to make his MLB debut.
The Cubs added Arias to their 40-man roster in November 2023. He initially signed with the organization as a minor-league free agent in 2021.
He spent most of 2023 in Triple-A, where he had a 5.45 ERA in 33 games. He posted a 2.09 WHIP with 46 strikeouts in 36.1 innings.
Overall, Arias has a career 4.25 ERA in 97 minor-league appearances (32 starts).
[MORE: Ian Happ details busy offseason and charts goals for 2025]
The Cubs had a full 40-man roster and needed to clear room for Rea.
Rea is a 34-year-old veteran that will serve as valuable depth in the Cubs’ rotation. He went 12-6 with a 4.29 ERA in 32 games (27 starts) for the Brewers last season.
The right-hander pitched for the Cubs in 2020, posting a 5.79 ERA in 9 outings.