*Photo from the Chicago Sun Times*
A veteran on his way to Florida near the end of his career? I think I've heard this one before. The Miami Marlins and RHP Johnny Cueto have agreed to a one year, $8.5 million deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Marlins have confirmed the news.
The 2022 season was spent with the Chicago White Sox for Cueto. He had a bounceback season, authoring a 1.23 WHIP, 3.35 ERA, and 3.79 FIP, throwing a complete game while making 24 starts and one relief appearance, totaling 158 1/3 innings pitched.
Cueto, soon to be 37 years old, posted concerning underlying numbers for the White Sox, despite the strong surface stats. He allowed 9.2 hits per 9 innings and appeared in the bottom of percentile rankings for expected batting average, fastball velocity, strikeout percentage, and whiff percentage. He did however, sit in the 74th percentile for chase rate and walked just 1.9 batters per 9 innings.
In the 2023 season, Cueto will earn $6 million in base salary, with the Marlins possessing a team option for 2024. That option is worth $10.5 million and has a $2.5 million buyout, thus guaranteeing Cueto $8.5 million. Cueto can max out the contract at two years and $16.5 million.
From 2011-2017, Cueto had a 2.94 ERA, the second lowest in baseball among starters with more than 750 innings pitched. Between 2017-2021, Cueto pitched in only 72 games and had a 4.38 ERA thanks to a litany of injuries, including Tommy John Surgery that sidelined him from July of 2018 until September of 2019.
Cueto has 15 seasons with 4 different teams in his career. He has amassed a 3.44 ERA, 3.85 FIP, and 1.21 WHIP, throwing 2,192 2/3 innings while making 353 starts and two relief appearances, with 8 shutouts to his name. Cueto has a 4.54 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 41 2/3 innings pitched in the postseason, making 8 starts.
The addition of Cueto further adds to a Marlins rotation loaded with young talent. Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, Pablo Lopez, Trevor Rogers, and Jesus Luzardo were already in the mix, with Sixto Sanchez also on the 40 man roster and hopefully ready to make a contribution.
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