Johnny Cueto Gives Reds Until Spring Training For Contract Extension Talks

The Cincinnati Reds have a tight salary situation on their roster, with ace Johnny Cueto near the top of the list of decisions they have to make. Cueto has given the team until Spring Training to negotiate a deal.

A real, true ace is one of the hardest things to find in Major League Baseball. The Reds actually have an ace in Johnny Cueto, yet their financial situation is so tight that they might not be able to keep him beyond 2015.

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Cueto was truly outstanding in 2014, to the point that he might have won the Cy Young award if not for that guy named Clayton Kershaw. In 34 starts, Cueto went 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA. He pitched 243.2 innings while posting an 8.9 K/9 rate and a ridiculous 3.72 SO/W ratio. He was filthy, as the kids say.

Whether by the Reds in the form of an extension this off-season or by some other team in free agency after 2015, Johnny Cueto is going to get paid. It sounds like the 28-year-old is not adverse to signing a deal with the Reds, but he wants it done before Spring Training.

That’s according to Jon Heyman of CBS, who spoke with Cueto’s agent Bryce Dixon:

"“He’ll give it until Opening Day,” Dixon said by phone. “Then he’s going to be focused on the season and trying to do what he can for Cincinnati. If something happens, we’re probably to keep it to this off-season. We’re not going to be looking to do something this summer.”"

That stance is admirable, I suppose, but is Cueto really going to say no if the Reds offer him a $180 million deal during the season? The answer to that question is no, methinks.

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