Written by Dave Tobener at The Comeback
If you had to take a guess at which team would be the first in history to give out two $90 million-plus contracts to pitchers in one offseason, the Giants probably wouldn’t be your first choice. Or your second. Or, probably, your twentieth.
And yet, here we are. The Giants gave Johnny Cueto a $130 million deal even before the ink was dry on Jeff Samardzija’s $90 million contract, accomplishing their goal of remaking a moribund rotation and propelling them back into the arms race that has become the National League West. And though Cueto comes with significant risk, he makes perfect sense for a team like the Giants.
Cueto’s career numbers are comparable to both Zack Greinke’s and David Price’s (who each got $200+ million this offseason), yet he’ll cost the Giants much, much less. That’s a product of a few things, notably Cueto’s injury history and the fact that he performed relatively poorly once he was traded to Kansas City last year. Regardless, pitchers with his pedigree rarely sign for what Cueto agreed to, and when you factor in the front-loaded nature of the contract plus the two year opt out the deal makes even more sense for the Giants. Best case scenario, Cueto regains his form and the Giants have an affordable ace for two years. Even if he doesn’t, the financial hit isn’t one that will cripple the Giants.
And there are signs that Cueto’s struggles in Kansas City were just a bump in the road rather than the start of a trend. His last start of 2015 saw him eviscerate the Mets in the World Series and he looked perfectly fine doing so. His numbers took a hit in the American League, but Cueto has been one of the most dominant NL pitchers in the game and he should benefit greatly by switching back. Plus, Cueto’s career numbers in NL West ballparks are very good; he even owns a career 2.61 ERA at Coors Field.
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