San Francisco Giants Offseason Signings, One Season Later
The San Francisco Giants were very busy last offseason, so let’s check back and see how their signings last year did in year one.
Johnny Cueto (6 years, $130 million)
To say that Cueto was worth every bit of the nearly $16 million he earned in 2016 would be a vast understatement. He was brought in to create a two-headed monster at the top of the rotation with Madison Bumgarner, and he lived up to that billing.
Cueto went 18-5 in his first year with the Giants while posting a 2.79 ERA and 1.093 WHIP. He struck out 198 batters, the second-most of his career, and issued a career-low 1.8 walks per nine innings. His five complete games were most in the league. He was named an All-Star for the second time, and started the All-Star Game for the National League. The Giants went 23-9 in games started by Cueto.
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Though the team’s postseason run was brief, Cueto was spectacular in his lone start in October. He threw eight sterling innings, allowing just three hits while striking out 10. He made just one mistake, serving up a solo home run to Javier Baez, and took the loss when the Giants couldn’t score.
Maybe just as important as the pitching, Cueto was a tremendous team presence. On the days he didn’t pitch, the right-hander was the team’s biggest cheerleader. During the team’s struggles, he kept the attitude in the dugout light. Even his at-bats were must-see TV, because the whacky swings he took were just too entertaining to miss.
Cueto might be (probably is, frankly) entering his final year with the Giants, as he has an opt-out clause after the second year of his deal. If he can replicate the success from his first year, Cueto will earn himself another hefty payday next winter.