The San Francisco Giants said they weren't finished in free agency as they needed another arm and a bigger bat.The question was could they acquire a top of the line model at both positions?
Well,to this writer's surprise-the Giants went out and grabbed the last remaining large prize in the free agent pitching race in former Reds and Royals righthander Johnny Cueto.
The 29 year old righthander went a combined 11-13 with a 3.44 ERA between Cincinnati and Kansas City,but his numbers in the senior circuit with the Reds were far superior (7-6,2.62 ERA on an awful Reds squad) and one would think those numbers would carry over in a return to the National League.
Cueto did not come cheaply,but the six year contract for 130 million does include a two year out for Cueto should he decide to activate that clause,so the Giants get the value out of Cueto that they think that they will,this is a good deal for them.
It could backfire though as Cueto had an elbow issue in 2013 that limited him to 11 starts and 60 innings,but has been quite durable in each of the last two seasons.
However,if Cueto doesn't pitch well or has injury issues,Cueto would have to be really dumb to activate the option and therefore the Giants would be on the hook for six years.
I know the money spent to upgrade the rotation looks heavy and it is (My nephew Jeff wrote me after hearing of the Cueto addition with "LA Light"? in reference to me calling the Red Sox- New York Light),but with the subtraction of Tim Lincecum and Tim Hudson from the budget,the expense
increase is not as much as one would think,although the commitment is far longer in these two cases.
Johnny Cueto is added to Jeff Samardzija to bolster a rotation filled with long term contracts.
Unless the Giants come up with a minor league phenom or injuries hit,the front four of the rotation are signed for a long time with Cueto (6 yrs),Samardzija (5),Madison Bumgarner (2 yrs plus 2 yrs of club options) and Matt Cain ( 2 yrs plus 1 yr at club option).
Only Jake Peavy has a contract that ends at 2016,so for the most part,the Giants rotation is pretty much set in stone.
After an injury riddled 2015 that saw the Giants struggle to roll reasonable non-Bumgarner options to the mound,this looks to be a pretty strong rotation-particularly if the team is able to get Matt Cain into some semblance of pre-injury form.
I would wager that this deal takes the Giants out of the bigger bats that the team desperately needs such as Alex Gordon,Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton,but I believe that the team will try to budget shop and hope to mine gold with someone like Dexter Fowler,Denard Span,Austin Jackson types.
Those players would be an upgrade in a small way and perhaps could be quite productive with a little bit of luck.
The other thing that these signings and the Arizona signings as well have strengthened those teams,but the loss of Zack Greinke should bring the Dodgers back to the field back a bit and the National League West should be an interesting three team race for the first team in a few years.
The Giants certainly are all in over the next few seasons before the inevitable rebuild would begin,so I get the Cueto and Samardzija deals.
The farm system has some interesting talent,but none (especially in the outfield where the need is largest) that is anywhere near making an impact in near future and with the Giants pitching in severe veteran mode-the time is now for the Giants.
Gambles in free agency?
Yes,gambles worth taking?
Certainly....
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