San Francisco Giants agree to 6-year contract with pitcher Johnny Cueto

The top end of the San Francisco Giants rotation got stronger on Monday when the team signed Johnny Cueto to a six year deal. Price was probably the most sure-thing of the three free agents, as Greinke is old and his contract will pay him over $30M in his age-37 season and Cueto has had more than his fair share of arm issues. The deal includes an opt-out clause after two seasons and an option for a seventh season, as reported by Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Cueto turned down a six-year, $120 million-plus contract offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks last month. He went 4-7 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts.

A year removed from leading the NL in strikeouts during an All-Star season, Cueto regressed in 2015 with a poor second half (4.34 ERA) and meltdown in Game 3 of the ALCS. But he reportedly had an MRI on his elbow that revealed no structural damage and he made 32 starts with Cincinnati and Kansas City. He now joins a rotation that’ll have Madison Bumgarner and recently signed Jeff Samardzija to form a formidable top 3.

But Cueto delivered for the Royals when it mattered, twirling a nine-inning gem for the Royals in Game 1 of the World Series, setting the stage for the team’s championship-winning series. Reports have indicated that the value of the contract is around $130 million. Cueto comes off as a potential cancer that would mope if he’s not pitching well for more than an occasional start or two, which would surely draw the ire of manager Bruce Bochy. Cueto had a rough August for the Royals last season, but bounced back in the playoffs and threw a complete-game 2-hitter in Game 2 of the World Series vs. the Mets.