Giants add Cueto

It very likely means bye-bye Mike Leake. OK.

It very likely means bye-bye Timmy. OK.

It very likely means bye-bye to an impact bat in LF. OK.

Because it also means the Gigantes are serious contenders for the NL West title, the NL title along withe the Mets, Cubs,Cards, D-Backs and Dodgers.

If you had told me Samardzjia AND Cueto prior to the of Fun-season. I would have said "don't you mean OR?"

I may have preferred Price and/ or Zimmerman, but I like this mix as well. Cain and Peavy in the 4/5 slots and Heston in reserve?

 That sounds really good to me.

Here's to Cueto's good health.

Ed Zurga / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Giants land Cueto with 6-year, $130M deal

Greg WarrenDec 14 2015, 4:26 PM

The National League West got even stronger Monday, as one of its clubs landed the top pitcher still available on the free-agent market.

The San Francisco Giants have agreed to a six-year deal with right-hander Johnny Cueto, pending a physical.

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports the deal is worth $130 million, and Cueto can opt out after the second year. There's also a club option for a seventh year.

San Francisco signed righty Jeff Samardzija to a five-year, $90-million pact earlier this month, and now features one of the better starting rotations in baseball.

PROJECTED 2016 ROTATION - 2015 STATS

PLAYER	IP	W-L	ERA	WHIP	SO9
Madison Bumgarner	218.1	18-9	2.93	1.00	9.6
Johnny Cueto	212	11-13	3.44	1.13	7.5
Jeff Samardzija	214	11-13	4.96	1.29	6.9
Matt Cain	60.2	2-4	5.79	1.50	6.1
Jake Peavy	110.2	8-6	3.58	1.12	6.3

The Giants needed to address their pitching needs this fall after losing Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong to free agency, and following Tim Hudson's retirement.

Cueto reportedly rejected a six-year, $120-million offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this fall, and his agent publicly statedhis client also had interest in joining the Boston Red Sox. Arizona countered by signing Zack Greinke to a six-year, $206.5-million deal, and Boston landed southpaw David Price with a seven-year, $217-million pact.

Pitching at spacious AT&T Park should benefit Cueto for years to come, as should a return to the NL after a brief stint with the World Series champion Kansas City Royals. The 29-year-old hurler is 96-70 with a 3.30 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 226 career starts.

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