Johnny Cueto has made three starts in spring training, but recently returned home to the Dominican Republic to tend to family issues. The Cincinnati Reds have only 13 days to negotiate a contract extension with the right-hander before he plays out the season and hits free agency in 2016.
Cueto told the Reds he was not willing to talk about a new contract once the season starts because he wants to focus on pitching and winning. However, such a time constraint isn't helpful for the Reds since Cueto is expected to wield a mammoth contract thanks to the deals given out to Jon Lester (six years, $155 million) and Max Scherzer (seven years, $210 million) this offseason.
"We've had some discussions and I'm not sure how it's going to play out because, as you know, pitchers' salaries have increased dramatically in the last year or two," said Reds general manager Walt Jocketty on MLB Network Radio. "Johnny would like to stay here, we would love to have him stay here, and we'll continue to try and work it out."
"I really can't give you any odds on it at this point but just let our fans know we're trying."
Jocketty's words are certainly believable since it's fairly obvious Cueto is going to cost a ton of money and the Reds will have to do a lot of financial tinkering to make room for him alongside the contracts of Joey Votto ($225 million), Homer Bailey ($105 million), Brandon Phillips ($98 million) and others.
In fact, it could be near impossible for the Reds to pull it off.
"If Cueto has another 15-20-win season, one GM estimates that he 'will get a Max Scherzer deal,'" writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
The 29-year-old finished second in the National League Cy Young voting only behind Clayton Kershaw last year after leading the NL in innings pitched (243 2/3), strikeouts (242), batters faced (961) and hits per nine innings (6.2). He finished 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 34 starts with the Reds.
If Jocketty can't reach a deal with Cueto before Opening Day, the Reds will have an insurmountable feat ahead of them if the right-hander has another Cy Young-caliber season before hitting the free agent market.
