Johnny Cueto agrees to 6-year deal with Giants
The San Francisco Giants, pending a physical, have agreed to a six-year contract with free agent pitcher Johnny Cueto.
The San Francisco Giants continued their offseason spending and have agreed in principle on six-year contract with free agent starting pitcher Johnny Cueto pending a physical. The Giants have yet to make the announcement official, but it has been reported that the deal will most likely be north of $120 million:
Sources: Johnny Cueto has an agreement with the Giants, pending a physical.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 14, 2015
Cueto, #SFGiants in agreement on six-year deal for more than $120M, pending physical. Agreement first reported: @Buster_ESPN
— Amy Hawley (@amy__hawley) December 14, 2015
The Giants, who won the World Series in 2014 and in every other even year during this decade, missed the postseason last season, and are looking to continue their trend of contending for championships in even years. After missing out on Zack Greinke, the organization’s top target, General Manager Brian Sabean moved onto the next tier of free agent starting pitchers. Cueto had an offer in place from the Arizona Diamondbacks, but held out because he believed that some team would offer him up more money, and he was correct:
cueto deal will be for more than he turned down with AZ. buster olney 1st with agreement.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 14, 2015
On December 5th, Jeff Samardzija and the Giants agreed on a five-year, $90 million contract. Many thought that “Shark” was going to be the biggest signing for the Giants during Free Agency, but Sabean just nine days later added another pitcher, one who just won a World Championship as the Royals defacto “ace.” Cueto will slot in as the Giants’ No. 2 starter behind former World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner going into 2016:
Bumgarner, Cueto, Samardzija, Peavy, Cain. Heston long reliever.
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) December 14, 2015
On paper, the Giants have the best rotation in baseball (again), and with a clubhouse full of veterans who have been through the postseason grind before, it’s hard not to see how nabbing Cueto doesn’t make the Giants one of the three National League favorites immediately heading into next season. The Los Angeles Dodgers look weaker on paper, and although the Diamondbacks look stronger, they don’t nearly have the winning pedigree that the Giants have accomplished recently.
There is a buzz in the Bay Area once again, like the Golden State Warriors weren’t enough…