Veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto, who signed a minor league take care of the Rangers in late April, had an early-June opt-out alternative however has agreed to push his out dates again, Ari Alexander of KPRC-2 reviews. Cueto’s opt-out dates now fall on June 14 and on July 1. If he’s not on the roster by both date, Cueto could have the appropriate to set off the clause, giving Texas 48 hours so as to add him to the massive league roster or else grant him his launch.
The 38-year-old Cueto is searching for a rebound from final yr’s tough displaying in Miami, when he pitched in 13 video games (10 begins) for the Marlins and posted an ugly 6.02 ERA. The correct-hander’s 17.9% strikeout fee was really up from the prior season’s 15.7% mark however nonetheless nicely beneath common. His stroll fee jumped from 5.1% with the 2022 White Sox to six.9% final yr, and regardless of working in a pitcher-friendly loanDepot Park setting, Cueto’s staggering 2.92 homers per 9 innings had been a career-worst mark (and the very best of any pitcher in MLB who tossed a minimum of 50 innings).
Cueto has made 4 minor league begins with the Rangers: one at their Rookie-level affiliate within the Arizona Advanced League and three with Triple-A Spherical Rock. Mixed, he’s totaled 18 innings with a 2.50 ERA, a 20.5% strikeout fee and a microscopic 2.7% stroll fee (two walks, 73 batters confronted). He’s additionally stored the ball on the bottom at a hefty 55.3% clip.
It’s a tiny pattern of labor in opposition to lesser competitors, however the outcomes are however broadly encouraging. Texas clearly wasn’t prepared so as to add Cueto to the massive league roster simply but however presumably has curiosity in doing so — therefore the mutual settlement to increase the opt-out window. It’s solely pure for the Rangers to need to protect the depth and maybe check out Cueto ahead of later, given the mounting variety of accidents among the many group’s massive league workers.
The Rangers entered the season figuring out that Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Tyler Mahle all confronted extended absences. Mahle (an offseason signee) and deGrom are recovering from 2023 Tommy John surgical procedure. Scherzer underwent again surgical procedure in December. Texas has since misplaced left-hander Cody Bradford to a stress fracture in his ribcage and extra lately positioned Jon Grey on the 15-day injured listing resulting from a groin pressure. Proper-handers Nathan Eovaldi and Dane Dunning additionally had IL stints owing to a groin pressure and shoulder pressure, respectively, however each returned to the rotation in late Might.
At current, the Rangers are going with a beginning 5 that features Eovaldi, Dunning, Michael Lorenzen, Andrew Heaney and minor league signee Jose Ureña. That quintet has delivered strong outcomes on the entire, regardless of a spotty monitor report from Ureña and the late nature of Lorenzen’s signing with the group. Nonetheless, the depth past these 5 names is suspect.
Former No. 2 total choose Jack Leiter has pitched nicely in seven Double-A appearances this season however has additionally been rocked for 17 earned runs by simply 9 1/3 innings in his first three massive league begins. He solely simply turned 24, so there’s loads of time for him to determine issues out, however he hasn’t regarded prepared for MLB opposition but. Fellow righties Owen White and Cole Winn each ranked as high pitching prospects at one level, however neither has given ample cause to imagine he generally is a answer for the time being. Winn, a former No. 15 total choose, has been moved to the bullpen and struggled in 11 MLB appearances this yr. White has a 4.69 ERA in eight Triple-A begins with a lackluster 15.8% strikeout fee in opposition to a weighty 11.3% stroll fee.
The Rangers’ hope is that Grey will solely require a minimal keep on the injured listing, thus permitting him to return briefly order, however a setback for him or an damage elsewhere within the massive league rotation would show extremely problematic. Maintaining Cueto round offers Texas an extra choice and affords the veteran righty the chance to proceed ramping up. Cueto tossed six scoreless innings in his most up-to-date look and for a second straight outing topped 80 pitches. He needs to be working with none pitch restrictions at this level, and it’s a lot possible {that a} massive league alternative in Arlington will current itself earlier than lengthy.
