CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs and free agent Colin Rea have agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract, reuniting the right-hander with manager Craig Counsell, a source told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers on Friday.

The 34-year-old Rea made one appearance with Milwaukee in 2021 and then pitched in Japan during the 2022 season before returning to the Brewers. He went 12-6 with a 4.29 ERA over 27 starts and five relief appearances for the NL Central champions last year.

Counsell managed Milwaukee for nine years before he was hired by Chicago in November 2023.

Rea gives Counsell and Chicago another versatile arm for their pitching staff. The Cubs have Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd for their rotation, but Rea could push Javier Assad for the fifth spot or work out of the bullpen.

Rea became a free agent when Milwaukee declined its $5.5 million club option on his contract in November. The Iowa native was paid a $1 million buyout.

Rea was selected by San Diego in the 12th round of the 2011 amateur draft out of Indiana State. He made his big league debut with the Padres in 2015.

He pitched for the Cubs during the 2020 season, going 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in nine appearances, including two starts.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

TORONTO — All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $33 million, three-year contract.

The team announced the deal Friday night, two days after Hoffman’s 32nd birthday.

Hoffman went 3-3 with a 2.17 ERA and 10 saves last season for the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies, earning his first All-Star selection in July. He set career bests for ERA, saves and appearances (68).

The right-hander struck out 89 and walked 16 in 66⅓ innings, holding opposing hitters to a .197 batting average and compiling a 0.96 WHIP before becoming a free agent.

“We are excited to add Jeff to our bullpen. His arsenal, strike throwing, and ability to miss bats against all types of hitters is elite and will undoubtedly make us better,” Toronto general manager Ross Atkins said in a news release. “Jeff will get an opportunity to close games for us this season. His track record, competitiveness, and experience make him a great complement to this group.”

Hoffman was chosen ninth overall by the Blue Jays in the 2014 amateur draft out of East Carolina but has never pitched for them. He was traded the following year to Colorado with three other players in a blockbuster deal that brought star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and reliever LaTroy Hawkins to Toronto.

The 6-foot-5 Hoffman made his major league debut for the Rockies in 2016. He is 23-26 with a 4.82 ERA in 256 career games, including 50 starts, over nine seasons with Colorado, Cincinnati and Philadelphia.

Hoffman pitched six shutout innings over five appearances for the Phillies in the 2023 National League Championship Series against Arizona. But he struggled badly in last year’s playoffs versus the rival New York Mets, going 1-2 while allowing six runs in 1⅓ innings over three outings in their division series.

Hoffman gets a $5 million signing bonus from the Blue Jays and salaries of $6 million this year and $11 million in each of the following two seasons. He can earn up to $2 million annually in performance bonuses for innings pitched: $500,000 each for 60, 70, 80 and 90.

In another roster move, Toronto right-hander Brett de Geus was designated for assignment.

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has banned two fans who interfered with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts during a World Series game at Yankee Stadium from attending games at big league ballparks.

The league sent a letter to Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen this week informing them of the decision.

“On Oct. 29, 2024, during Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, you interfered with play by intentionally and forcefully grabbing a player. Your conduct posed a serious risk to the health and safety of the player and went far over the line of acceptable fan behavior,” said the letter, the contents of which were first reported by the New York Post and later obtained by The Associated Press.

“Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball is banning you indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices, and other facilities,” the letter said. “You are also hereby banned indefinitely from attending any events sponsored by or associated with MLB. Please be advised that if you are discovered at any MLB property or event, you will be removed from the premises and subject to arrest for trespass.”

MLB has previously issued leaguewide bans for fans who trespass on the field or threaten baseball personnel. A fan who approached Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. at Colorado’s Coors Field in 2023 received a similar ban.

Capobianco and Hansen were ejected from the game on Oct. 29 and banned from Game 5 the following night.

Betts leaped at the retaining wall in foul territory and caught Gleyber Torres‘ pop fly in the first inning, but a fan in the first row with a gray Yankees road jersey grabbed Betts’ glove with both hands and pulled the ball out. Another fan grabbed Betts’ bare hand.

The Yankees at the time called the behavior “egregious and unacceptable.”

The team said Friday the two fans MLB banned were not season-ticket holders. The Post reported Friday that the person who is the season ticket holder was not at the game and will be allowed to keep them.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.