The White Sox announced Monday that they’ve selected the contract of right-hander Johnny Cueto from Triple-A Charlotte. Cueto, who signed a minor league deal with the Sox last month, will start tonight’s game against the Royals. Infielder Danny Mendick was optioned to Charlotte in a corresponding move. Chicago’s 40-man roster is now at capacity.
Cueto had a May 15 opt-out clause in his contract, so he could’ve become a free agent had the Sox not selected him to the big league roster. Whether Cueto formally triggered that clause yesterday isn’t clear — teams typically have 48 hours to add a player to the roster once an opt-out of that nature is exercised — but with Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn currently on the IL, there was a natural opening for him anyhow. Cueto will earn a prorated $4.2MM salary now that he’s been selected to the Majors.
Through four starts in Triple-A Charlotte, the 36-year-old Cueto posted a tepid 5.17 earned run average, but the remainder of his numbers were far more encouraging. The former Cy Young runner-up fanned 27% of his opponents against a very strong 6.3% walk rate — complementing those solid K/BB numbers with a hefty 57.1% ground-ball rate. It’s a small sample against lesser competition, of course, but Cueto was a generally solid arm with the Giants last season as well. In 114 2/3 innings with San Francisco, he notched a 4.08 ERA with a 20% strikeout rate and a 6.1% walk rate.
While Cueto still appeared to be a viable back-of-the-rotation option, his market was slow to come together this winter. Several teams expressed interest following the lockout — the Twins and Tigers reportedly among them. However, once Opening Day was within arm’s reach, the possibility of a Major League deal ultimately evaporated, as interested parties knew that Cueto wouldn’t be game-ready come Opening Day after looking for a suitable offer throughout the duration of Spring Training.
Cueto will still be able to earn approximately $3.32MM under the prorated terms of his White Sox deal, and he’ll be in the Majors with just 39 days of the trimmed off the calendar. Depending on how he fares early on, it’s possible there’ll be a long-term opportunity for him. Both Dallas Keuchel and Vince Velasquez have struggled to ERAs north of 5.50 through their first six starts, while righty Jimmy Lambert had his own struggles through a pair of spot starts thus far. Dylan Cease, Michael Kopech and, once healthy, Giolito and Lynn all seem like locks for long-term rotation spots, health-permitting — but the fifth spot in the rotation is a bit less certain. Keuchel’s weighty contract may well keep him in that spot for now, but if he continues pitching at his current pace and Cueto is able to replicate last year’s solid form, it’d be hard for the Sox not to make a switch.
Here’s Johnny!
This season is shaping up a lot like the movie “The Shining” for this team.
Not if Groundskeeper Willie has anything to so with it
Dumpster Diving Ricky!
1 hitter by Johnny in the 6th!!
Sox lead 3-0.
What a deal the Sox got with Cueto!
Hopefully, he can keep up his good performance through the World Series!!
Good for you buddy!
I wonder when a guy who’s made the kinda money Cueto has made over the years he’s made it, how it feels to be on a minor league deal. How it feels to be called up. How it feels to pitch in the majors again for the first time- again- and either reestablish your value and market at a competitive level, or find out you might still be able to play baseball but you aren’t elite like you used to be and your veteran status is what’s giving you chances, not the quality of your performance… or you get a new eight figure deal out of it.
Interesting to think about all the psychology and motivation at play in that period of a player’s career.
He was only on a one month minors deal to get in shape.
He had option to become FA after May 15.
So it feels good!
He had an ERA barely over 4 just last year in 20 starts. It’s not like he has been out of baseball a couple years or hasn’t pitched decent in a long time. I don’t think anything special about this year psychologically. He’s only a year older than Lance Lynn.
I just hope he pitches like last year, that would be more than adequate and a lot better than Velasquez.
TLR is going to coach Johnny Cueto? I remember the Cardinals not being overly fond of the Reds version of Cueto because of ending catcher Jason LaRue’s career. Enough water under the bridge I guess.
No, Sox due to bring back “Coop”!
And ought to hire “Big Frank” as hitting coach!!
Just because you’re really good at doing something, it doesn’t mean you’re really good at teaching it.
@ hyraxwithaflamethrower
Yes. Ted Williams is a great example as arguably baseballs best pure hitter who struggled later as a hitting coach.
Most White Sox fans are thrilled with new pitching coach Ethan Katz. He’s done great work in helping young SP’s Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech reach the next level in their development. Katz also helped turn around struggling pitcher Reynaldo Lopez once the latter got his vision issues rectified.
Of course, Katz was also Lucas Giolito’s high school pitching coach and helped turn his former pupil’s struggling MLB career around prior to becoming the White Sox pitching. Katz has continued to fine tune Giolito along with a number of other White Sox pitchers.
The White Sox have had some pitching issues thus far with inconsistency at the back end of their rotation and in the bullpen. Vince Velasquez has shown signs of improvement the past month while veteran Dallas Keuchel’s last two outings have been his best. The return of Lance Lynn early next month and the promotion of Johnny Cueto should help the rotation in terms of production and depth. The White Sox have one of MLB’s best bullpens on paper and figure to get on track once the rotation gives them more innings.
The White Sox biggest issues thus far in 2022 have been their hitting and defense. If any changes are made in the coaching staff they figure to address those concerns although it’s doubtful they would happen during the season. Like the bullpen, the White Sox have a strong lineup on paper. Getting everyone healthy would be the top priority along with more sensible lineup construction from their manager.
The defense has long been a question mark but should also improve with better health and perhaps better management. The outfield defense often struggles with Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets on the grass, two career first baseman until they were forced into the corners due to injuries. Currently injured Eloy Jimenez is another liability in the outfield. That said, the White Sox defense can be stellar with an alignment of AJ Pollock in LF, Luis Robert in CF and Adam Engel in RF.
The infield is a mixed bag, especially with SS Tim Anderson struggling with his error totals. A healthy Yoan Moncada helps at 3B while Jose Abreu has improved over the years at 1B. It would be nice if ‘Pito’s’ bat would come alive with the warmer weather finally reaching Chicago. The front office takes some blame with their failure to properly address 2B after trading expected core 2B Nick Madrigal last summer. Perhaps Cuban prospect Yolbert Sanchez can help shore up their 2B defense and woeful keystone hitting in the coming weeks with a promotion from AAA Charlotte.
Sanchez profiles to be the same type of player as Madrigal, who isn’t exactly making the Sox lament his absence too much so far. He seems injury prone, and his upside is very limited offensively with no power and few walks. He’s even striking out a ton. I would find it laughable if Sanchez proves better than Nick, who I highly doubt will prove that big a deal. I’d prefer him to the disaster duo they have now of course, but not by a huge margin.
The Sox biggest weakness is hitting, they’ve only outscored 2 teams and have been outscored by 30 runs so far, 1 per game. Over half their regulars are hitting under .200, and TLR continues to make idiotic lineup choices. First with Garcia 2 or 3 in the order for a few games, now resting Moncada the day after 2 hits and a homer – with Grandal already out of the lineup. They had a rainout Wednesday, it’s not like Yoan can’t play a 4 game series. TLR gives them less of a chance to win half the time he fills out a lineup card.
Their starting pitching might be OK but this team has a lot of holes in their lineup (and defense as you point out), and their failure to get a big bat that can hit right handed pitching either of the past two offseasons will haunt them. They’ve played .500 since late July and are lucky they are anywhere near .500 so far this year with their -30 run differential. Hope they start to hit pretty darn soon, but this team just isn’t built to compete with the Yanks, Astros, and Jays. They have a hell of a tough schedule coming up, they won’t be able to hide their weaknesses, that’s for sure.
Nick Madrigal is a throwback ball player, akin to former White Sox great Nellie Fox. He always hit for average with very few SO’s throughout his college and professional career. I expect him to do likewise with the Cubs provided the front office eggheads don’t force advanced analytic measures like launch angle and exit velocity into his game. Madrigal also won’t benefit by hitting more balls into the air. I remember when slap hitters would be fined, at least in their clubhouse kangaroo court, everytime they popped up or flew out. This not only applied to grunts like Madrigal but also speedsters like Lance Johns and Kenny Lofton. Those players had more success hitting the ball on the ground with their speed. Line drives were acceptable, not fly outs or pop outs. Of course, managers employed more hit and runs back in the day where hitting down on the ball was encouraged.
Yolbert Sanchez profiles similar to Madrigal with perhaps a higher upside defensively with the range and arm to play SS along with 2B. His hit tool is similar, perhaps not as elite when it comes to a high BA and extremely low SO numbers. Sanchez has shown better plate patience and more of an ability to draw walks. He might possess a bit more power as well.
Nellie Fox played in 12 all star games. I will go out on a limb and predict 12 less than that for Nick. Even a .300 average with no power does not mean much in today’s game. And right now he’s hitting 100 points less than that, while on the DL for the 3rd time in 3 years.
That’s a lot of words for a fringey guy who has bad baseball instincts despite being a college ball player.
The big hurt. “She’ll like it too!”
It’s never too late for what Cueto did.
I hope Tony sends him up to pinch hit against Wainright if they play the Cards this year. Wano will straighten Cueto out properly. Molina might have a thing or 2 to say as well.
Wano is too goody goody to bean a player and Yadi is all bark and no bite Cueto would stop him.
Only a whiny little “butt” brings up an altercation from 12 years ago, which is where everything stemmed. Besides, Johnny was just channeling his inner Mario Brother, trying to kick out all the coins the Reds wasted paying LaRue while he was in Cincinnati.
There’s a lot of talent on this team and I know there’s still a long way to go but if they don’t get themselves on track soon they can forget about October.
Age, mileage, and injury – all caught up with Cueto in SF. (He worked extremely hard to come back from TJ surgery.) But he was a good Giant and most of us will remember him fondly, nonetheless.
So… “Go Johnny, go go go.”
Facing the Royals has to help the confidence.
Word
What could possibly go wrong?
And the Yankees too!
Sox sweep the DH!!
He will either throw 6 shutout innings or give up 6 runs in the 1st.
Yup.
Nice prediction, 6 shutout innings it was.
And another 6 shutout innings yesterday vs the Yankees!!
Will Cueto be able to beat out Cease and Kopech for Cy Young?!
Shimmy shimmy shake y’all. No one does it like Cueto.
He’ll be fine, shocked Vince Valasquez hasn’t blown up yet
Jack, you’re “shocked” that Velasquez hasn’t “blown up yet?” His ERA is 5.53……what on earth were you expecting?
He looked good. Fun to watch. Too bad he didn’t get the win.