The contract includes an opt-out clause after two years, meaning Cueto can become a free agent again after the 2017 season, and a club option for a seventh year.
Advertisement
Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Johnny Cueto holds the Commissioners Trophy in the clubhouse after defeating the New York Mets to win game five of the World Series at Citi Field. Cueto turned down a reported six-year, $120-126 million offer in November from the Arizona Diamondbacks, who quickly shifted course and signed marquee right-hander Zack Greinke to a six-year, $206.5 million contract.
But the whispers that the Giants might be showing extra interest in Cueto says a couple things. Cueto had a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts for the Royals, and alternated brilliant starts with rough ones in the postseason. That year, Cueto led the NL with 242 strikeouts in a league-high 243 2/3 innings, finished second in WHIP (0.96) and won 20 games. The Giants’ projected rotation for next season now is Madison Bumgarner, Cueto, Samardzija, Jake Peavy and Matt Cain. He was the winning pitcher in Game 2 of the World Series, turning in a one-run complete game.
Advertisement
He struggled for the Royals though in late August and early September. The biggest issue with Cueto concerned his right elbow, which has barked in recent years and was a concern among some teams that otherwise would’ve been interested in him. The Giants were the last of those three still searching for a pitcher at Cueto’s price tag, though, after missing out on Greinke and failing to use the money for an outfielder like Jason Heyward. Reports have indicated that the value of the contract is around $130 million.
