Milwaukee Brewers Make Move to Shore Up Starting Rotation in 2024

The Milwaukee Brewers have inked right-handed starting pitcher Colin Rea to a new contract in an effort to shore up their starting rotation in 2024.

Per MLBTradeRumors:

The Brewers are retaining one of their starters, signing Colin Rea to a one-year deal with a club option for 2025. The right-hander is guaranteed $4.5MM — a $3.5MM salary for next season and a $1MM buyout on the option, which is valued at $5.5MM. The deal also contains up to $500K annually in innings-based incentives. Rea is represented by Joe Speed.

The Brewers enter the offseason with several questions in their rotation, so this is a good move to help provide some stability.

Brandon Woodruff is expected to miss the entire season with shoulder surgery, while Eric Lauer is headed to free agency as well. Wade Miley is headed to the open market as well and former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes is in the final year of arbitration. There's been reports about the team potentially trading him to save money and get value. 

As for Rea, the 33-year-old went 6-6 last season in 26 appearances. He pitched to a 4.55 ERA over 124.2 innings, striking out 110.

It was his fifth year in the big leagues after pitching for the Padres in 2015-16, the Marlins in 2016, the Cubs in 2020 and the Brewers in 2021.

He pitched in Japan during the 2022 season.

In addition to the rotation question marks, the Brewers also don't know who their manager will be. Craig Counsell's contract is up and he has received overtures from several organizations.