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MLB Free Agency: 5 potential landing spots for Johnny Cueto

By Dave Stevenson

Oct 14, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Johnny Cueto reacts after retiring the Houston Astros in the 7th inning in game five of the ALDS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Johnny Cueto reacts after retiring the Houston Astros in the 7th inning in game five of the ALDS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy (15) reacts during the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy (15) reacts during the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants will likely be the most persistent pursuers of Johnny Cueto in free agency. The NL West is an arms race between the Giants and Dodgers. The Giants have Madison Bumgarner, but they can’t really rely on Matt Cain to remain 100% healthy at this point. The rest of their rotation has some concerns. Signing Cueto would help to alleviate a lot of those concerns.

Johnny Cueto would form an impressive combo with Bumgarner at the top of the Giants rotation. If Matt Cain can get back to being the Matt Cain that Giants fans are used to seeing, that would give the Giants a trio at the top of their rotation that would be as good if not better than the Dodgers.

Johnny Cueto’s tendency to allow flyballs could work well in AT&T Park, which is the most pitcher-friendly ballpark in all of baseball. The Giants would also give Cueto a chance to continue winning. The Giants were interested in acquiring Cueto at the trade deadline, so that means that they will most likely at least consider signing him as a free agent.

Johnny Cueto’s likelihood to sign with the Giants would likely go up if the Dodgers manage to re-sign Greinke. At that point, the Giants would have to match what the Dodgers are doing. Cueto would make a ton of sense for the Giants.

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