Cubs DFA Pitching Prospect Michael Arias to Finalize Colin Rea Signing

Chicago: So, the Cubs made a move to officially sign Colin Rea by designating pitching prospect Michael Arias for assignment. Rea’s deal is for one year and worth $5 million, plus a club option for 2026. He’s expected to add some depth to the rotation and bullpen.

Arias was ranked as the Cubs’ No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline. They added him to the roster after last season to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

What’s interesting about Arias is his journey. He started as a shortstop and signed with the Blue Jays in 2018 as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, he never played a game for them and was released in 2020.

Then, in 2021, he joined the Cubs as a pitcher on a minor-league deal. That switch really worked out for him, and he made it to Triple-A last May. He had a 5.45 ERA there, mostly pitching in late-game situations.

Now that Arias has been designated for assignment, the Cubs have a week to either trade him or put him on waivers. It’ll be interesting to see what happens next!