Right-hander Johnny Cueto elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Angels, per transaction log at MLB.com. That indicates he first went unclaimed on waivers and then rejected an outright assignment to the minors.
Cueto signed a minor league deal with the Angels in late July and was selected to the big league roster a month later. He tossed a quality start against the Royals in his first outing as an Angel before being tagged for six runs in five innings versus Detroit in his second start. Cueto pitched a total of 11 1/3 innings for the Halos, gave up nine runs (four homers) and posted a 6-to-3 K/BB ratio. That performance came on the heels of a nice run with Triple-A Salt Lake, where he posted a 3.09 ERA and 15-to-5 K/BB ratio in four starts — a total of 23 1/3 innings. This year’s 91 mph average fastball was down from last season but not a career-low mark and not all that different from the 91.3 mph he averaged from 2018-22.
Other clubs around the league can now mull a pickup of Cueto down the stretch if they’re looking for some veteran rotation depth. He won’t be eligible for any team’s playoff roster if he signs at this point, however. It’s possible Cueto simply waits until the offseason to sign another contract — assuming he’s intent on continuing his pitching career into his age-39 season.
The 2023-24 seasons have been tough for the former All-Star. Cueto has been tagged for 6.22 ERA in 63 2/3 innings across the past two seasons, spending time with both the Marlins and Angels (in addition to a minor league run with the Rangers earlier this year). His ’23 campaign was impacted by a biceps injury that limited him to 11 starts.
As recently as 2022, Cueto was a quality big league hurler, making 24 starts for the White Sox and recording a 3.35 earned run average in 158 1/3 innings with a 15.7% strikeout rate and 5.1% walk rate. And, of course, Cueto was one of the game’s steadiest and most-productive pitchers in his peak. From 2010-16 the right-hander piled up 1294 2/3 innings of 2.86 ERA ball, striking out 20.6% of his opponents against a 6.2% walk rate. He had three top-six Cy Young finishes, two All-Star nods and won a World Series ring with the 2015 Royals along the way. In 2256 1/3 career innings, Cueto sports a 3.52 ERA and 144-113 record.
doubtful he will get picked up, this is likely the end of the road for Cueto
He’ll get a spring training invite next year if he wants to keep trying
Reds could bring him back as a feel good, fill the bullpen day hole. Let him go out back home.
I was hoping Votto would sign a 1 day contract with the Reds and call it a day instead of posting a video from a downtown Buffalo, NY parking lot and retiring.
If they’re gonna do that they may as well bring back votto then. The Reds ain’t going nowhere this year may as well have some home comings
Cueto would actually help the team not just feel good. They are using AA pitchers and still having to do bullpen games.
This makes too much sense
He should just elect retirement. The man has made over $175MM in his career. Just go home instead getting crushed.
I think Cueto might play baseball for the love of the game.
If so, he would have just gone back down to AAA. It seems feasible that the Angels could bring him back up later in the year for a game or two if he had stayed.
I love it that some grizzled vets stay and keep playing in the minors at the end of their careers just for the sake of playing, but if they can’t play in the majors any more, then stay in the minors or retire.
Not necessarily. He’s can be reviewing his options.
If he simply retires, then it’s not for the love of the game.
@halo11fan angels probably told him he wasn’t in plans not sure if anyone will sign him unless it’s a spot start.
Unless the player is a known PED user or other type of cheater, I wish them well.
Baseball does a pretty good job at removing the others.
I hope he gets a spot start. But he just doesn’t have it anymore.
Mexican league looks like fun. Robbie Cano probably league MVP.
Why are people so eager for people to retire these days? Anytime someone over 30 gets released people want to put him in a nursing home.
They are probably all kids that think 30 is old.
He’s 38 and has had 31 good starts out of his last 107 since 2016. That means about 70% of his starts over the last 8 years have been ineffective.
Let’s not pretend he’s young with upside. Or that he’s an accountant. ..he’s a professional athlete. .. and I’m not a “little kid”. I’ll be 30 myself next year
On one side it’s probably an acknowledgement that baseball, more than any other sport, will tell you when it’s time. Pass the baton to a young kid trying to make it.
On the other side, it’s the desire to play the game you love until you’re no longer capable of playing it.
To baseball topics: You are right on both points!
The market decides!
I don’t know, maybe it has SOMETHING to do with his stats the last two years…?
Tigers!!!!!!! I can smell 87 wins
His career hasn’t been the same since he tried to break a bat over his knee and failed miserably. Wish the best for Cueto even though he killed the Mets in that 2015 World Series. Him and Zorbrist carried that Royals team in the post season
Yankees need an arm that can get outs
He’ll always be known as a scumbag who ended Jason Larues career in a cowardly low class act
Hang em up Johnny. The game is better off without you.
Rrefresh my memory, what was that? Thank You!
It was a brawl. Even Jason LaRue doesn’t feel this way about the incident, but I guess someone has to tell him how he should feel.
Jason LaRue simply wasn’t that good.
Your mom wasn’t either but we still refer to her as a catcher
That’s true but only as your backup.
Johnny Cueto was one of the most enjoyable players to watch, as well as being pretty darn good. I wish him well whatever he does next.
He could make some sense for any team looking to eat innings at the bottom of the rotation over the last month of the season. And who knows, he might even be able to string together a few respectable starts. The tricky part is finding him a place on the roster without a DFA.
Stick a fork in him. He’s done.
Sounds lie Dallas Keuchel with the Crew! DK got DFA but the Brewers were contenders. I think JC could have been allowed to finish the season, considering his good career.!
For many of us old timers who’ve been following mlb for fifty or more years …. Baseball is the rediscovering of the fountain of youth for us like no other sport.
Guys like Cueto Hill et al have the ability and the spirit to keep that fountain going.
Baseball is a joy.
He could probably catch on with a Mexican kickball “league” team
You’ve gotta know when to hold ’em, and when to fold ’em. And when to walk away.
It must be tough for players on the cusp of retirement. Especially after a long and successful career.
He surely doesn’t need any more money. He just loves being a ballplayer so much that, I think, that he won’t walk away until nobody will let him play anymore. I imagine he’ll pitch till he’s 50, in whatever bush league will let him take the ball. It’s obviously a joy for him and I admire him for trying so hard keep on playing the game he so dearly loves, for as long as he possibly can. After all, he can afford to do whatever he wants…so why not do just that.