San Francisco Giants to sign Johnny Cueto to six-year, $130 million deal

The San Francisco Giants have agreed to sign starting pitcher Johnny Cueto to a six-year, $130 million contract. ESPN’s Buster Olney first reported the deal, while Jerry Crasnick provided the details of the agreement.

According to Crasnick, the contract will also include an opt-out clause after two seasons. Cueto had previously turned down a six-year, $120 million offer from the Diamondbacks.

With David Price and Zack Greinke already off the board, Cueto was the biggest name remaining on the starting pitching market. He was traded to the Kansas City Royals prior to this year’s July trade deadline after eight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. The right-hander, who will turn 30 in February, owns a career 3.30 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 2.86 K/BB ratio.

Cueto’s last four years in Cincinnati were particularly ace-like, as he posted a 2.48 ERA (156 ERA+), 1.07 WHIP and 3.17 K/BB from 2011 to 2014. His most recent campaign started just as strong, but Cueto unexpectedly faltered following his midseason move to Kansas City.

Acquired to provide the Royals with a surefire number-one starter in preparation for the postseason, Cueto managed just a 4.76 ERA in 13 regular season starts with the club. His inconsistency continued into the playoffs, but he put a major exclamation point on his campaign (just in time for his impending free agency) by tossing a complete game against the Mets in the World Series, allowing only two hits and one run.

Cueto will form an imposing one-two punch with Giants ace Madison Bumgarner in a San Francisco rotation that has already added Jeff Samardzija to its ranks this offseason. AT&T Park is one of the better places to pitch in the league, and Cueto has performed well there in the past. He owns a 1.69 ERA there over 21.1 innings, and the Giants would certainly sign up for more of the same as they attempt to return to the postseason in 2016.

At the moment, the Dodgers are looking like one of the bigger losers of this year’s starting pitching market. One of L.A.’s main weaknesses this season was the stark drop-off in the quality of its staff after Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. Though they did bring in Hisashi Iwakuma, they are staring down a lesser rotation in 2016 after watching Greinke and Cueto sign with division rivals.

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Opt-outs also continue to be popular, and Cueto’s will allow him to test free agency again in advance of his age 32 season if he so chooses.