The Chicago White Sox should sign Johnny Cueto to a one-year deal
The Chicago White Sox appear to be set to return former prized-prospect Michael Kopech to the starting rotation in 2022. Functioning primarily out of the bullpen last season, Kopech threw 69 innings, striking out 103 and walking only 24. This was Kopech’s first MLB action in over three years as he missed the end of 2018 and all of 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and then he chose to opt out of the 2020 season during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fact that injuries have been an issue for Kopech makes a guy skeptical about his odds of pitching the whole season out of the White Sox’s rotation in 2022. Reynaldo Lopez and Garrett Crochet are two bullpen arms capable of starting, but the White Sox could use another reliable arm in their rotation.
35-year old Johnny Cueto is entering his 15th season in the big leagues. With 300+ starts, 2,000+ innings, and three top-6 finishes in the NL Cy Young voting under his belt, he would be a perfect addition to the back-end of the Chicago White Sox’s starting rotation.
Cueto, like Kopech, is only a few years removed from a Tommy John surgery of his own. Last season saw him make 21 starts and 8.0 strikeouts per-nine innings, his highest in a full season since 2017. Cueto is no longer the pitcher who goes 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA and 242 strikeouts, but he is an experienced starting pitcher with an extensive track record. He would fit very nicely in the back end of the Chicago White Sox starting rotation.