Giants, free agent Johnny Cueto agree to 6-year, $130M deal
Free agent right-hander Johnny Cueto agreed to a six-year deal with the San Francisco Giants.
The deal with the 29-year-old is a coup for the Giants, who could pair Cueto with left-hander Madison Bumgarner and right-hander Jeff Samardzija in a revamped starting rotation. The contract is contingent upon Cueto passing a physical.
Cueto turned down a six-year, $120-million offer from the Diamondbacks before they moved on to Zack Greinke.
Cueto has a 96-70 record with a fine 3.30 ERA in eight major leagues seasons.
During the 2015 Winter Meetings in Nashville, sources told TSX insider John Perrotto that there were teams with concerns about the condition of his right elbow. Others believe he could go into a quick decline because he does not stay in the best of shape.
Cueto was brilliant in a complete-game two-hitter in Game 2 in the World Series but had mostly a rough go of it with the Kansas City Royals following a July trade from the Cincinnati Reds. He compiled a combined 3.44 ERA in 2014 and has pitched 200-plus innings four consecutive seasons.
Samardzija signed a five-year, $90 million deal to join his fourth team in two-and-a-half seasons (Cubs, Athletics, White Sox).