Starting pitcher Johnny Cueto was perhaps the only bright spot for the Cincinnati Reds in 2014. The right-hander went 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 34 starts, but the Reds faltered and finished fourth in the NL Central. Will they work to extend the 28-year-old?
According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Cueto will give the Reds until Opening Day to work out a long-term deal to keep him beyond the 2015 season. His agent, Bryce Dixon, said the sides will "cease negotiations" once the season starts. Dixon noted that Cueto wants to be focused on the season and avoid being distracted by contract talks.
Cueto has enjoyed a successful seven-year tenure with the Reds and owns an 85-57 record with a 3.27 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 194 starts. He earned his first All-Star honors this past season after notching career-bests in games started (34), wins (20), ERA (2.25), WHIP (0.96), innings pitched (243 2/3), strikeouts (242) and strikeouts per nine innings (8.9). He was the runner-up behind Los Angeles Dodgers' starter Clayton Kershaw for the NL Cy Young Award.
The only problem for the Reds is that Cueto and his agent will be playing close attention to Max Scherzer's contract situation. It could be argued Scherzer is the top pitcher on the free agent market, even before Jon Lester was inked to a six-year, $155 million deal by the Chicago Cubs. Lester was garnering much interest because he's a hard-throwing lefty and has extensive postseason experience thanks to his two World Series championships with the Boston Red Sox. However, Scherzer has been one of the top pitchers in the MLB over the past three seasons (55-15 record with a 3.24 ERA in 97 starts). The right-hander is seeking a contract worth $200 million.
It's no surprise Cueto will be using Scherzer as a guideline for his future long-term contract because he has similar numbers (although no Cy Young Award). Since 2011, Cueto has amassed a 53-25 record with a 2.48 ERA in 102 starts, which is going to be worthy of a large contract especially since Lester just earned $155 million after compiling a 40-33 record with a 3.65 ERA in his last 98 starts. Perhaps the Reds are prepared to offer such a deal since they traded starters Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon, who were both entering contract seasons as well.
Cincinnati initiated extension talks with Cueto at the MLB Winter Meetings, but it's going to be no easy task. They already have $68 million on the books for 2016 because of the big contracts and annual salaries of Joey Votto, Homer Bailey, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce. They're also going to have to deal with contract situations regarding closer Aroldis Chapman, Todd Frazier and Billy Hamilton in the future, so dishing out another $100 million contract could inhibit their ability to build a balanced team.
Cueto will earn $10 million in 2015, and unless the Reds can keep him on an extension, he's going to garner a ton of interest next offseason.
