The Chicago White Sox announced on Tuesday that they signed right-handed pitcher Johnny Cueto to a minor league contract.
Cueto is a former All-Star with loads of MLB experience, even in big spots, so his signing makes sense for the White Sox as they seek to make a deep postseason run in 2022.
Chicago needed someone with experience to help replace Lance Lynn, who will miss at least a couple of months due to a knee injury.
Cueto will make $4.2 million, or the prorated amount to the number of days he is in MLB.
According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, “Tony La Russa said Johnny Cueto will report to Triple-A Charlotte. There’s some history with Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz. Need for him appeared after Lynn knee injury. Unclear how much time he’ll need to ramp up but he’s been throwing (obviously).”
Tony La Russa said Johnny Cueto will report to Triple-A Charlotte. There’s some history with Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz. Need for him appeared after Lynn knee injury. Unclear how much time he’ll need to ramp up but he’s been throwing (obviously).
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) April 5, 2022
An Experienced Arm With Plenty Of Big Innings
With the NL West-winning San Francisco Giants, he had a 4.08 ERA and 98/30 K/BB ratio in 114 2/3 innings in 2021.
Cueto used to be an elite starter, but his last season of that kind of performance came in 2016, when he had a 2.79 ERA in 219.2 innings.
After that year, his ERA finishes are closer to five or four than three or two earned runs per nine frames.
The 36-year-old has amassed, to this point, a fantastic career.
He has a 135–97 win-loss record with a 3.45 ERA and 1,710 strikeouts.
He is a two-time All-Star (2014, 2016) who won the 2015 World Series with the Kansas City Royals, and paced the National League in strikeouts in 2014.
The White Sox hope he is in good form to at least contribute some quality innings and, why not, take one of the spots in the rotation even after Lynn returns.
NEXT: White Sox Turn To A Former All-Star For Pitching Depth