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.
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.
Steele (elbow) began a throwing program Monday, the pitcher posted from his X account.
The left-hander was cleared to throw on flat ground for the first time since undergoing UCL revision surgery in April. A firm timetable for Steele's readiness to pitch in games isn't clear, but he's likely to get a late start to next season. The left-hander boasts a 3.18 ERA and 458:128 K:BB over 449.2 innings since the beginning of the 2022 campaign.
Cubs' Kevin Alcantara: Set for core-muscle surgery
Rotowire
Alcantara will undergo core-muscle surgery Thursday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The expectation is that Alcantara will have a relatively normal offseason and report to spring training in full health. Alcantara has seen spot duty with the Cubs each of the last two seasons, going 5-for-21 at the dish. The 23-year-old slashed .266/.349/.470 with 17 home runs and 10 stolen bases over 102 contests in 2025 at Triple-A Iowa. Alcantara is out of minor-league options, so he's likely to make the Cubs' Opening Day roster in 2026, though it could be as a reserve outfielder.
Cubs' Cade Horton: Expected to have normal offseason
Rotowire
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Wednesday that Horton (rib) was going to be on the NLCS roster if the team advanced, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Horton exited his final regular-season start with a right rib fracture and was not on the wild-card or NLDS rosters, but he appears to be healthy now and is expected to have a relatively normal offseason. The rookie right-hander collected a 2.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 97:33 K:BB over 118 regular-season innings for the Cubs.
Caissie was deemed free of concussion symptoms and resumed taking part in baseball activities earlier this month, MLB.com reports.
Though the Cubs didn't activate him for the wild-card series win over the Padres nor their NLDS loss to the Brewers, Caissie appears to have made a full recovery from the concussion that landed him on the 7-day injured list Sept. 14. The 23-year-old outfielder -- who hit .192 with one home run in 12 games this season in his first taste of the big leagues -- should be in line for a normal offseason. He'll compete for a spot on the Cubs' Opening Day roster in spring training, though Caissie's chances of beginning the 2026 campaign in an everyday role with the big club could be determined by whether Chicago re-signs Kyle Tucker or brings aboard another high-profile corner outfielder or designated hitter over the winter.
Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Finishes postseason with three HR
Rotowire
Suzuki went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Saturday in a Game 5 loss to Milwaukee in the NLDS.
Suzuki accounted for Chicago's only run with a solo shot off Jacob Misiorowski in the second inning. That long ball temporarily tied the game, but the Brewers scored twice more to emerge with the 3-1 series-clinching victory. Suzuki led the Cubs with five RBI over eight postseason games while knocking three doubles and three homers among his seven hits. He also scored four runs but posted a 1:10 BB:K.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Takes loss in relief in Game 5
Rotowire
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.
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 managed just a single run. Rea finished the postseason having pitched in three games, giving up only one run over 7.2 innings despite yielding nine hits and posting a 3:3 K:BB.
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