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San Francisco Giants, Johnny Cueto reach agreement, pending physical
The San Francisco Giants announced they have reached an agreement on a six-year deal with right-hander Johnny Cueto, pending a physical.
The deal is for $130 million and features an opt-out for the pitcher after the second year, sources said.
The Giants, who previously signed free agent Jeff Samardzija to a five-year, $90 million contract in early December, have further strengthened a rotation that already included Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain and Jake Peavy. Cueto was the top starter left on the free-agent market this winter.
"We're going to very much need Cain and Peavy at their best," Giants general manager Bobby Evans said. "Hopefully with these two significant additions it gives us a balance of five guys that can give us the starts and innings we need to protect our bullpen and give us the best chance within our division to compete for the division. That's the goal."
Cueto, 29, is 96-70 with a 3.30 ERA and one All-Star appearance over parts of eight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals. The Royals acquired Cueto from the Reds in a July non-waiver deadline trade, and he recovered from a disappointing regular season in Kansas City (4-7 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts) to make a significant contribution to the Royals' World Series run.
"Johnny has always been, and rightly so, very high on our list ... high on our short list," Evans said. "He's somebody we've admired for a long time."
Since 2010, Cueto's aggregate 2.87 ERA ranks third among MLB starters (minimum 900 innings pitched) behind Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright. His 455 2/3 innings over the past two seasons is third most in the majors behind David Price and Corey Kluber.
Over the last five seasons, Cueto ranks in the top-5 among all qualified pitchers in ERA, opponent OPS, and WHIP.
"He's not a guy that you relish facing," Evans said. "You have a guy who has a chance to be an elite presence in your rotation if he's healthy and we can play good defense behind him and use our ballpark to our advantage. Johnny has upside beyond his 2015 final numbers."
The deal is for $130 million and features an opt-out for the pitcher after the second year, sources said.
The Giants, who previously signed free agent Jeff Samardzija to a five-year, $90 million contract in early December, have further strengthened a rotation that already included Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain and Jake Peavy. Cueto was the top starter left on the free-agent market this winter.
"We're going to very much need Cain and Peavy at their best," Giants general manager Bobby Evans said. "Hopefully with these two significant additions it gives us a balance of five guys that can give us the starts and innings we need to protect our bullpen and give us the best chance within our division to compete for the division. That's the goal."
Cueto, 29, is 96-70 with a 3.30 ERA and one All-Star appearance over parts of eight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals. The Royals acquired Cueto from the Reds in a July non-waiver deadline trade, and he recovered from a disappointing regular season in Kansas City (4-7 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts) to make a significant contribution to the Royals' World Series run.
"Johnny has always been, and rightly so, very high on our list ... high on our short list," Evans said. "He's somebody we've admired for a long time."
Since 2010, Cueto's aggregate 2.87 ERA ranks third among MLB starters (minimum 900 innings pitched) behind Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright. His 455 2/3 innings over the past two seasons is third most in the majors behind David Price and Corey Kluber.
Over the last five seasons, Cueto ranks in the top-5 among all qualified pitchers in ERA, opponent OPS, and WHIP.
"He's not a guy that you relish facing," Evans said. "You have a guy who has a chance to be an elite presence in your rotation if he's healthy and we can play good defense behind him and use our ballpark to our advantage. Johnny has upside beyond his 2015 final numbers."