The Brewers are retaining one of their starters, signing 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. Rea, 33, signed a minor league deal with the Brewers coming into 2023 and was added to the roster in mid-April. The club dealt with multiple injuries to its rotation throughout the year, with each of , and mi sing significant time. While the starting staff was fronted by and , Rea was able to step in and support them with some serviceable innings. He made 26 appearances, 22 starts, logging 124 2 Gary Harris Jersey /3 frames with a 4.55 earned run average. He struck out 21.3% of batters faced while walking 7.4%, and kept the ball on the ground at a 43.8% rate. Though Rea is shy of the six years of service time required for automatic free agency, it was in September that his contract would allow him to return to the open market. Thats a common contractual clause for players who spend time in foreign leagues. Rea pitched in Japans Nippon Profe sional Baseball in 2022, throwing 100 innings for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks with a 3.96 ERA. When he signed with the Brewers, he was able to secure himself a return to the open market in the language of his deal. He became a free agent today but the Brewers have quickly locked him up for another season. Rotation depth could be a question for the club yet again in 2024. Woodruff recently underwent and is expected to mi s most of the upcoming season. He is heading into his final arbitration season and might wind up non-tendered, given that injury uncertainty and a projected $11.6MM salary. Burnes is also headed into his final arb year and has long been a speculative trade candidate due to the clubs low-spending ways and his rising salary, projected for $15.1MM next year. Even if the club hangs onto Burnes, there are questions behind him and Peralta, with Miley now a free agent again. will likely be in the mix while is on the 40-man and could earn himself a spot after posting a 4.18 ERA in Triple-A last year. is the clubs best pitching prospect and should be in line for a promotion in 2024, though hes yet to make his major league debut. Perhaps the Brewers find room in there for Rea or he ends up in the bullpen or a swing role. Although its po sible Burnes and Woodruff stick around for 2024, both are slated to be free agents after that. Reas 2025 option gives the Brewers a bit of extra depth for that season as well. first reported that Rea would make a $3.5MM salary and was guaranteed a $1MM buyout on the $5.5MM option. reported the incentive value. Torrey Craig Jersey