Dream FA Target Johnny Cueto

[DaveW]

Pros:

Only 29

5 year contract likely gets it done.

Last 5 seasons: 889.1 IP (3 seasons 210+ IP), 2.71 ERA, 1.082 WHIP even when pitching in a hitters park.

 

Cons:
Has struggled  (4.76 ERA) since the trade.

 

Prior to the trade to the Royals, Cueto was up to his old tricks with yet another sub 2.80 ERA season. For whatever reason Cueto has slumped in KC and many people including MLB Trade Rumors thinks this will drop his value from a 6 year deal to a 5 year deal. With that said, if the Twins can figure out how to trade one of Nolasco or Hughes contracts, Cueto becomes a no brainer IMO and gives the Twins a legitimate ace for the next several years (while not giving up 6-7 years) Whatever money that would be owed to him would be off the books way before Buxton, Sano, Berrios etc become free agents.

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Wasn't there rumblings of arm issues, even before the trade? Given his recent performance, I think his best bet may be a 1-year make-good type of deal, rather than a depressed 5 year deal in a market with a lot of top SPs.

[spinowner]

As you said, the problem is we'd need to dispose of at least one and probably two of our bigger contracts (in other words, Hughes, Nolasco and Santana) to make room both on the roster and on the payroll. If we can get what we need in such a trade then I certainly think he's worth considering.

[Kwak]

Nix on Cueto.  This guy folds like the Argentine Army in big games.  Character is more important than statistics.

[Winston Smith]

no!

[sane]

If you stop eating spicy food after 6 PM, these wild dreams will go away.

[DaveW]

Nix on Cueto. This guy folds like the Argentine Army in big games. Character is more important than statistics.

What big games? Game one was the only "big game" of his career thus far.

 

Past 5 years, 2nd lowest ERA in all of baseball. Not sure why everyone would refuse to have that on this roster....

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Johnny Cueto and Ervin Santana could be "the dreaded Dominicans"

 

Though I think those are technically braids swinging around back there...

 

It would be like Spahn and Sain, pray for rain!

[King Jack]

I wouldn't sign him. He's performed really poorly since the All-Star break. I'd be wary of signing any pitcher who hasn't pitched in the AL.

[sane]

I'd be wary of signing any pitcher who hasn't pitched in the AL.

Kershaw, Arrieta, DeGrom, Cole, Bumgarner, Harvey, Melancon, Rosenthal, Chapman?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Kershaw, Arrieta, DeGrom, Cole, Bumgarner, Harvey, Melancon, Rosenthal, Chapman?

wow that's quite a free agent class, I didn't realize that!!!!! :) get busy Ryan!

[snarkerbarnyard]

If the twins are going to pursue a big time FA ace this year, I'd rather them go for Price. If they're going to spend $150 mil+, why not make the best available guy their #1 target?

[Andrew]

If the twins are going to pursue a big time FA ace this year, I'd rather them go for Price. If they're going to spend $150 mil+, why not make the best available guy their #1 target?

You either go big or go home when it comes to a SP this year. I'm not about to spend 100+ million to get a guy(Cueto) who has struggled in the AL or has been rumored to have arm problems just to save a few bucks on an ace. Price or Grienke or I'd walk.

[Hrbowski]

Cueto is pretty good, and the Twins will probably have interest, because they have been scouting him all summer, so this isn't totally unrealistic, but his struggles since coming to the AL are definitely concerning.

[DaveW]

If the twins are going to pursue a big time FA ace this year, I'd rather them go for Price. If they're going to spend $150 mil+, why not make the best available guy their #1 target?

Cueto won't cost $150 million

Price will cost 200 million

[HitInAPinch]

I think Cueto's stuff plays better in the NL.  I'll pass.

[70charger]

I find it difficult to believe that a guy whose ERA is consistently in the twos won't be able to pitch in the American League. 

 

That's all I'm going to say about that.

[Jarends703]

Cueto has had poor babip numbers since being traded. Very poor. Only a few starts in AL are not enough of a sample size to say his stuff doesn't play in this league.

[jun]

I believe the rotation of Santanna, Hughes, Gibson, Milone and Duffey are good enough. Berrios could start in AAA and be ready. In July the Twins could get an Ace starter with less money. The top priority is the bullpen arms and one good catcher who could hit and keep baserunners honest.

[Mike Sixel]

I prefer Greinke or Price, and agree with those above. IF they sign another SP, it should be a true ace/stud type. Otherwise, I'd not be interested in another SP at this point.

[DaveW]

 

I think Cueto's stuff plays better in the NL.  I'll pass.

What does that even mean? By that logic "everyone's stuff plays better in the NL"

[DaveW]

 

I prefer Greinke or Price, and agree with those above. IF they sign another SP, it should be a true ace/stud type. Otherwise, I'd not be interested in another SP at this point.

Dude, Cueto has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last 5 years! Certainly has been in the top 10 (even with the "NL"  you have to admit having the 2nd lowest ERA over that time is impressive, especially pitching in a bandbox in Cinci)

I would prefer Greinke or Price as well, but those aren't happening, Cueto actually has a shot (even if its 2%) of happening.

[Kwak]

Cueto is pitching for likely the best defensive team in the AL, and their stadium is no bandbox, and his results are disappointing...    This a guy who the PITT crowd booed him to the breaking point.  Unh, unh.  Twins need someone who is mentally tough--and that trait is not on display.

[SF Twins Fan]

Not a chance would I spend that kind of money on Cueto.  He's been solid in the NL but that's the NL.  He's not nearly as good as: Kershaw, Arrieta, DeGrom, Cole, Bumgarner, Harvey, Melancon, Rosenthal, Chapman.  Pitchers who move to the AL typically struggle, because they don't get to face a pitcher a couple of times a game.  I believe the Twins have enough options for the starting rotation already in Hughes, Santana, May, Milone, Duffey, Gibson with Berrios right around the corner.  No need to go spend a ton of money on a starting pitcher. The Twins need to figure out the bullpen and add a solid catcher who can replace Suzuki a couple of times a week.

[SwainZag]

What's the going rate on contract for Cueto?  Something around the Lester contract?

[HitInAPinch]

 

What does that even mean? By that logic "everyone's stuff plays better in the NL"

The NL is now, and always has been, the "fastball league".  So, guys who throw more breaking stuff, like Maddux, Glavine and Phil Niekro have more success in the "fastball league".  A good comparable for Cueto is Kershaw.  Both have good, moving fastballs in the 93-94 range [and can pop it when needed], but it's the breaking stuff that really sets them apart. 

 

The AL has always been considered a "breaking ball" league.  And pitching wise, has always been considered the opposite of the NL.  You just see more pitchers like Cueto [minus the el Tiante delivery].

 

[laloesch]

 

As you said, the problem is we'd need to dispose of at least one and probably two of our bigger contracts (in other words, Hughes, Nolasco and Santana) to make room both on the roster and on the payroll. If we can get what we need in such a trade then I certainly think he's worth considering.

 

 

Agreed.  The only way we go for a big name pitcher is we shed two of the big three (Nolasco, Hughes & Santana).  Probably in that order.  I really would like to see Berrios, May and Duffey in the rotation for a full season before going for an ace caliper starter.  Honestly, I don't see it happening especially with Mauer and Nolasco's monstrous contracts on the books for the next 2-3 years.  I'd rather see the Twins invest in a good young catcher even if it means giving up Gibson and other prospects to get him.

[nicksaviking]

 

Kershaw, Arrieta, DeGrom, Cole, Bumgarner, Harvey, Melancon, Rosenthal, Chapman?

 

And all of them are under the age of 28.  Except for Melancon, who seems like an odd inclusion in this list and who actually did pitch for Boston when he easily had his worst year.

 

Pass on Cueto, no more pitchers going into the back nine of their careers please.

[nicksaviking]

 

Dude, Cueto has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last 5 years! Certainly has been in the top 10

 

But we're not paying for the past 5 years, we're paying for the next 5 years.

 

Considering only 4 pitchers who started the year older than 30 are in the top 20 in WAR in 2015, only 3 were in the top 20 in 2014 and only 3 in 2013, I don't want anything to do with long term deals for these kinds of pitchers any more.  In the past two years, the only pitcher in the top 20 in WAR over the age of 32 was Adam Wainwright last year.

 

The age of the veteran pitcher is over, if you can't develop or trade for your own young arms, you're team's in trouble.

[DaveW]

 

But we're not paying for the past 5 years, we're paying for the next 5 years.

 

Considering only 4 pitchers who started the year older than 30 are in the top 20 in WAR in 2015, only 3 were in the top 20 in 2014 and only 3 in 2013, I don't want anything to do with long term deals for these kinds of pitchers any more.  In the past two years, the only pitcher in the top 20 in WAR over the age of 32 was Adam Wainwright last year.

 

The age of the veteran pitcher is over, if you can't develop or trade for your own young arms, you're team's in trouble.

Nolasco, Santana, Hughes, all of those guys were 30 or very close to it when signed, obviously the Twins love to have some veterans on the staff, why not actually go out and get a great pitcher instead of a medicorce one for once?

Yes, Cueto will be a risk, but there is a very good chance he still preforms as an ACE the first few years, even if he reverts to a 2/3 in the last 2 years it's still not a bad deal.

 

Instead we are stuck with mid to back end rotation guys like Nolasco, Hughes and Santana for more money then it would cost to bring in Cueto.