After adding Jeff Samardzija to their rotation last week, the San Francisco Giants have added another top quality starter, signing free agent right-hander Johnny Cueto to a six-year, $130 million deal. Samardzija and Cueto will slot in behind Madison Bumgarner in the Giants starting rotation next season. The Giants also have Matt Cain, Jake Peavy, and Chris Heston who will vie for starts.
There are several clauses in the 29-year-old Cueto’s deal including a player option to opt-out after two year s, and a club option for the 2022 season. According to multiple reports, Cueto will be paid $46 million through the initial two years of his contract with San Francisco and thus would forsake a guaranteed $84 million if he exercises the opt-out.
In eight seasons, Cueto owns a 96-70 mark with a 3.30 ERA in 226 career starts. That includes 2-1, 1.69 in three appearances at AT&T Park.
Last season, Cueto struggled, going 11-13 with a 3.44 combined ERA with Cincinnati and Kansas City. The ERA was his highest since he recorded a 3.64 figure in the 2010 season. He pitched through some discomfort and had a tough August, but rebounded down the stretch, winning a number of big games as the Royals won the 2015 World Series. He threw a two-hitter in a pivotal game two victory over the Mets.
“With these two significant additions we made, it gives us a balance of five guys who can give us the starts and innings we need to protect our bullpen and give us the best chance to compete for the division [title],” Giants general manager Bobby Evans said in a conference call. “That’s the goal.”
“You have a guy that has a chance to be an elite presence on your staff,” Evans added. “He gives many different looks to a hitter, when you see him the third time through the order, you don’t know what’s coming.”
Main Photo via Getty Images, baseball collection.
