With the injury to staff ace Lance Lynn, the Chicago White Sox suddenly found themselves in the market for a starting pitcher.
Lynn will be out for at least four weeks with a torn meniscus, leaving the White Sox without some much-needed innings coverage.
However, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn took matters into his own hands and went out and signed former All-Star right-hander Johnny Cueto to a minor league contract.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Cueto will make $4.2 million, prorated by days spent on the White Sox MLB roster.
Cueto was the best available starting pitcher still left on the free agent market.
Right-hander Johnny Cueto and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a minor league deal, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN. He'll make $4.2 million, prorated for days spent in big leagues. Sox need pitching with Lance Lynn injury, and Cueto was best free agent left.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 5, 2022
Sox Take A Chance On Cueto
Cueto struggled mightily during his time with the San Francisco Giants as injuries took their toll on the right-hander, but he seemed to somewhat regain his form in 2021, going 7-7 with a 4.08 ERA.
If Cueto can stay healthy, then this could be a solid move for the White Sox and give them somebody to get them by and give them innings until Lynn returns, whenever he officially recovers from his knee injury.
Cueto came up in 2008 with the Cincinnati Reds and turned into an ace, earning two All-Star nods.
He was traded to the Kansas City Royals midway through the 2015 season and played a key role in delivering the Royals a World Series title.
Cueto now looks to return to form with the White Sox and fill in for Lynn.
If Cueto is healthy and at his best, the rotation will still be among the best in baseball, with Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease, Dallas Keuchel, and Vince Velasquez rounding out the other rotation spots.
We’ll see if Cueto can crack the big-league rotation at any point this year.
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