San Francisco Giants: Johnny Cueto an overlooked free agent

There was a time when Johnny Cueto was one of the best pitchers in the game. For a large portion of the 2010s, the former San Francisco Giants pitcher was a star, a two time All Star who was the runner up in the 2014 Cy Young balloting. Cueto was a key part of the Royals championship in 2015, dominating in Game Two of the World Series that year.

The years have not been kind to Cueto. Injuries and ineffectiveness have changed the perception of him around the game. At 35 years old, he is not going to be that dominant arm any longer.

Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto being overlooked

That does not mean that Cueto cannot be a viable option for teams looking to fill out their rotation. He could serve as a strong back of the rotation arm, a fourth or fifth starter with a great deal of upside. Add in his 14 years in the league, and Cueto could also serve as a veteran mentor for a team with a young pitching staff.

His 2021 campaign served as a bounceback season. He posted a solid enough 4.08 ERA and a 1.369 WHiP over his 114.2 innings, striking out 98 batters with 30 walks. Even if he is not the fireballer he was in his youth, Cueto is still capable of recording outs and can be a solid arm.

There are some concerns aside from his previous struggles. Cueto missed time last year due to a lat strain and an elbow strain. While he was able to return from both injuries, including a seven out relief appearance at the end of the year, those ailments could give teams a reason to worry about offering Cueto a contract.

This reluctance could make Cueto a bargain. While the likes of Andrew Heaney and Jordan Lyles have been snapped up, Cueto is still a free agent. He could easily outperform his contract, and if he signs with a rebuilding team, could be a valuable trade chip at the deadline.

Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto may not be a star any longer, but he can still help a pitching staff. He has been overlooked thus far.