There’s a “strong possibility” that righty Johnny Cueto will require Tommy John surgery, Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters today, including Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group (via Twitter). Cueto was placed on the disabled list earlier this evening.
Though clearly a final decision has yet to be made, it’s obviously poor news for a Giants organization that surely hoped for quite a bit more from the veteran starter. Cueto already missed over two months of the season due to a sprained right elbow, and he clearly hasn’t been pitching at full capacity since his return — the veteran righty has a 6.86 ERA in his four starts (21 IP) since being activated off the 60-day disabled list.
Between that extended stint and a brief 10-day DL stay due to a sprained ankle in April, Cueto seems set to finish his 2018 campaign with only 53 innings pitched. To make matters even more frustrating for both the player and his team, Cueto’s numbers over his first five starts were outstanding. He has a microscopic 0.84 ERA over his first 32 innings of the season, doing his best to carry an injury-riddled Giants rotation in April. It appeared as though Cueto had bounced back from a subpar 2017, but he now faces a major injury setback that will keep him sidelined for potentially all of the 2019 season, given the 12-16 month recovery window for Tommy John patients.
Cueto has generally been a durable arm over his career, notching four seasons of 200+ innings since 2012. He had a minor elbow issue in 2015, though that didn’t stop the Giants from signing Cueto to a six-year, $130MM contract in the 2015-16 offseason, and Cueto certainly didn’t look anything less than first-rate in his initial season in San Francisco (2.79 ERA, 8.1 K/9, 4.4 K/BB rate over 219 2/3 innings). A flexor strain and some blister issues cropped up in 2017, however, and Cueto managed just a 4.52 ERA over 147 1/3 innings.
This performance led Cueto to forego exercising his player opt-out clause following the 2017 season, leaving the Giants fully on the hook for the remainder of the contract. Cueto is owed $21MM in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and the Giants have a $22MM club option for the 2022 campaign that carries a $5MM buyout. Next year’s salary is now all but a write-off for the team, and since Cueto turns 33 in February, it can’t be certain that he’ll resume his front-of-the-rotation form when he eventually does return.
Tonight’s win over the Padres brought the Giants’ record to an even 54-54, and with a third of the season to go, the club is five games back in the NL West race and 5.5 games out of a wild card slot. Giants GM Bobby Evans recently indicated that his team still saw itself as a contender, and have been connected to a variety of names on the trade market in recent days. With the Giants already trying to thread the needle of making deadline upgrades without putting payroll over the luxury tax threshold, however, it could be that Cueto’s absence may turn San Francisco towards selling. MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi has reported that the Giants are indeed now open to trading pending free agents as they look ahead to 2019.
Without Cueto, the Giants’ rotation for next season currently projects as ace Madison Bumgarner (whose $12MM club option is an no-brainer pickup), a veteran who has dealt with his own share of injury problems in Jeff Samardzija, Andrew Suarez and Dereck Rodriguez (who have both pitched well in their rookie seasons). The Giants could look internally and give Ty Blach or Chris Stratton another crack at the fifth starter’s job, or it’s also possible the team could look to add a more established arm this winter. The Giants will be in a position to spend, after all, since they’ll only be charged the first-time offenders’ rate for luxury tax overages after getting back under the tax limit this season. The Brian Sabean/Bobby Evans front office hasn’t been shy about making bold moves for veterans, so expect the Giants to be linked to several big-name pitchers on the free agent and trade fronts this offseason.
ouch
Rip
Ouch for Giants fans
Bummer poor Johnny
That’s too bad, hope he doesn’t really need it and can heal up
Will this be the injury that tips the scale for SF to be sellers? Better decide quickly.
SF has to be sellers. They are 4th best in their own division let alone 9th best overall in the NL. Don’t have the talent to compete with LA, ARI or COL.
There’s no way they should be sellers they’re literally 6 games out that’s a good week of baseball. Try and see if you can get a deal done for Archer, or another starter and you’re in a better position than you were with an injured Cueto
Bobby Evans, is that you ?
The Giants fans seem to understand what the Giants management cannot publicly admit: they’re not going anywhere this season.
I was there a couple nights ago. they announced another sellout but the stands were no more than half full at game time.
you do know they have zero farm system and are not in a position to make trades for upgrades. comes a time when you have to be realistic on your options. Sell now is the best thing they can do and they still wont have a good farm after but will be better in years to come then they are now.
Problem is Giant fans got to complacent with good teams. the Giants have been a very good team for almost 7 years. that is a very long run now days in baseball. Like all teams at some point you need to rebuild. the longer they wait to rebuild the longer they will just be another almost a good team but no playoffs. Perfect time to trade Bumgardner because you can see he is starting to get old. A couple of good trades and the rebuild will be over but fans hate to hear the truth.
Have you seen the returns for some of these guys. You don’t need a strong farm anymore. Even the best guys are just garnering 1 top 100 guy. Brad Brach, a guy that would improve most bullpens, went for a $250k international slot. You just don’t need that much to improve anymore other than a willingness to trade and an ability to sell the unknown quality of prospects.
Brad Brach’s ERA is a shade under 5. Let’s tone it down.
Yeah, totally. Q last year cost the Cubs Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease, and Chapman in 16 cost them Gleybar Torres. Practically nothing…
Brach sucks. Get real
Should trade or let go of some players.
Panik, Pence, Shark, Belt all laters
Yeah, without him even I think the season is not gonna pan out. If anyone wants Cutch or some bullpen arms, call (415) 972-2000 and ask for Brian or Bobby.
Nope — the Giants still sell about 40k tickets every night. They’d rather sell McCutchen shirts the rest of the year than trade him.
Mets West Coast
But it’s an even year
Great call!!! 🙂
Shows you know nothing about baseball
Not surprised.
At this point, just seems like a regularity with MLB.
TJ season “record” attainable? Get better soon, Cueto!!
Sell everyone and start over. Cut the non productive players who can’t be traded. The fanbase deserves better than the illusion of trying to field a competitive team with old expensive players.
Who is downvoting this ? Seriously, look at the position that the Giants are in and make a logical case for them to do anything else. $190M payroll, trailing three teams with greater talent, bogged down with huge contracts on declining players, and very little of note in the minors. But, but, but they’re only six games out ? This seems like a watershed moment for the Giants where they could make moves today and possibly be back in contention in a few years, or keep trodding along and work themselves into a decade of mediocrity. Balls in your court, Bobby.
The Giants problem is not only that they’re not good, but outside of Bumgarner they don’t have many players that would bring back many good prospects. They’re in a real bad spot.
I think we all saw the writing on the wall for Cueto. I’m surprised that they kept rushing him back from the DL.
Ohtani of the Angels will be getting the next TJ surgery. Should have gotten it done already with the Angels out of the playoffs.
Cueto said he now realizes he can’t keep telling the team and himself that he’s fine when he’s not. It wasn’t the team rushing him back.
Everyone seemed to know he would need TJS at some point. Question was when
I’m sad our time has ended but optimistic for the future. D-rod and Suarez look like a solid duo, when they are posting sub 4 era’s (sub 3 in Rodriguez’s case) in their rookie seasons you know they are capable of being major league starters. Slater is the closest thing we’ve had to a five tool player in years, and we have all the veteran mentor ship we’d need with the horrible contracts of Shark, Melancon, and Longoria loll. Rooting for the Brewers and Mariners should they make the playoffs this year!
Slater is absolutely not a 5 tool player. He is at the most 3 tools (hit, field, arm) he does not have power and he does not have speed. It’s sad that we as giants fans can be delusional enough to believe someone like slater is close to a 5 tool player. Giants haven’t had a 5 tool player since barry bonds
He most certainly does have speed. Not elite Dee Gordon like speed but above average. Power in the majors hasn’t came yet, but I’ve seen him rake in the minors and with time I can see him hitting 15-20 HR a year, 15-20 SB, 280-285 BA, and all around good defense. No superstar, but you could compare his skill set to A.J pollock with slightly less power.
And a much, much better throwing arm in the outfield. Already has the strongest throwing arm in the entire Giants system.
Thanks. Our two fan bases need all the help (and luck/prayers) we can get. Thought he was pulled because he made it through the order for the second time.
Time to start dealing some of those players. First move trade McCutchen to the Yankees.
The Giants don’t have many players that would bring much back in return.
Sounds about right.
Giants are better on hits and mid road on avg, but near last in offensive and pitching categories. One player does not make this team better either way, their window has closed.
Over or under he knew he was hurt back when he was weighing the opt out of his contract? I’m going with the over. Cueto knew his elbow was toast, opt out wasn’t even a decision.
All that money invested in Cueto and Melancon – to name two. Unreal…
Shark and Longoria for another 2
Lucky us fans have those 3 WS rings to fall back on. Makes it soooo much easier to get through the lean times. Especially when we watch so many overrated teams choke every October.
Yeah I wouldn’t be upset at all as a fan. I’d take 3 series in 5 years and be good for 20-30 years
Couldn’t agree more.
Final nail in the coffin for this dynasty.
I saw where the Yankees are interested in him suddenly
That’s a shame. He is a lot of fun to watch pitch, & one of the best when he is on his game. A little bit like AJ Burnett. Stretches of brilliance mixed with inconsistency and big injuries.
I’d have to say this dude has really been a huge disappointment for the Giants. As a Dodgers fan I was disappointed they got him and we didn’t but the way it’s worked out I’m glad it wasn’t us that got him..with that being said I can understand why they took the chance singing him because when he was healthy he was a great pitcher and I do feel bad for him battling injuries so much lately and it does suck for the Giants and their fans. Never wish injury for anyone. Hope he can completely and come back to pitch competitively.
Remember that when the giants signed Cueto they had actually outbid the d backs at 6 yr 120 million. Giants offerered 6 for 130 and Cueto took it, he was pretty amazing in his first season and is one of the most entertaining ball players I have ever watched, look at all the injuries to everyone’s pitchers the last few seasons giving out big money to pitchers is just a huge risk but it’s one that every big $$ club has no problems with… I was in a similar position to yours states above but the pitcher was David price … can’t say that has worked out well or better than Cuetos time in sf overall with the quality of a pitcher as he is and love and joy for the game I look forward to the next time Johnny graces the mound at att
Big money for pitchers with lots of mileage usually turns out bad. Hope he comes back.
Everyone says SF should be sellers at the deadline but fail to realize they have no one of value other than Posey or Bumgarner, who they refuse to trade.
Will Smith would bring back an absolute haul. He’s been more lights out than Brad hand.
Stop. Smith is having a career year coming off an injury. Put Brad’s 3 years in SD up against Smith’s 4 seasons in the NL which puts both at just over 200 inn.
Brad tops Will in about 90 percent of the categories on baseball reference in one less year and has 40 more saves. Yes Will is having a nice season but let’s not act like a larger sample says the same thing.
Will Smith has been hurt. He was traded for a top 100 prospect a few years back. It’s not some kind of fluke. I said he’s been more lights out than hand this season. No doubt about that. This wasn’t a shot at hand don’t take it that way. You’re overlooking Smith. Not sure what you’re talking about with 90% of the categories or anything either. Will Smith has a lower ERA and FIP than Brad hand. He’s a much higher injury risk and isn’t controlled as long. He’s not quite as valuable for those reasons.
Compared to Brad Hand he’s more like Jaden Smith
Watson, Smith, moranta, McCutchen, some young pitching could all move if you want to
nick hundley — 9 homers in 55 games as a backup. . derek holland has a sub-4 era and a strikeout per inning in 108 innings this year. Those are 2 rentals right there that would get a couple guys with a chance to make it some day
Nobody wants Posey – he’s been pretty mediocre this year and costs a fortune.
Cutch is a solid veteran that can bring a nice bat to a corner spot.
The bullpen has some fantastic pieces that teams crave.
There are some good, young starting pitchers for a team in need. (not that I personally want those traded)
Hundley could start at catcher for some clubs in dire need and is a great bat off the bench.
yeah I always forget that hundley is there – he could totally go to a team that needs a catcher as there is some depth in the system.
sooo sorry Giants’ fans. although i’m not one of you damnnn i know your pain.
Rip Johnny’s real ligament
Just shows that the human body was not designed to withstand that much shimmying
lol solid.. but wouldnt the shimmy put stress on the hips and knees opposed ro the elbow.
We kind of saw this coming two years ago.
pretty sure he had a forearm strain the year he was dealt from cincy to kc.. so yea its not the hugest surprise but bummer non the less.