The Giants have agreed to a 6-year, $130 million deal with right-hander Johnny Cueto, as first reported by Buster Olney of ESPN.com. The deal includes an opt-out clause after two seasons and an option for a seventh season, as reported by Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Cueto will earn $46 million in the first two years of his contract before the opt-out, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. He will be able to re-enter the free-agent market entering his age-32 season if he is successful in his first two seasons as a Giant.
Cueto is the second rotation addition of the offseason for the Giants, who signed Jeff Samardzija to a five-year deal worth $90 million before the Winter Meetings. San Francisco's rotation mix now consists of Madison Bumgarner, Cueto, Samardzija, Jake Peavy, Matt Cain and Chris Heston.
In 2015, Cueto threw 212 innings, posted a K/9 of 7.47, a BB/9 of 1.95, and a HR/9 of 0.89. He also managed an ERA of 3.44, an FIP of 3.53, and an fWAR of 4.1. While Cueto was expected to be one of the top targets this offseason, his market dried up rather quickly, and left him without a clear fit after David Price went to the Red Sox and Zack Greinke signed with Arizona.
Cueto reportedly wanted to go to the Red Sox, "because his idol is Pedro Martinez", but after Price signed a 7-year deal for $217 million, Boston was no longer a realistic landing spot. Arizona made a 6-year offer that was worth more than $120 million, but Cueto declined and will instead head to a division rival.