The San Francisco Giants declined the team option for Johnny Cueto on Friday, officially making the veteran right-handed pitcher a free agent.
Cueto’s option was for a seventh season with the Giants at $22 million. By declining the option, the Giants are also buying out Cueto for $5 million.
Cueto’s 2021 season got off to a brilliant start — in his first three games he pitched 20 innings and allowed just 13 hits, 4 walks, and 4 earned runs, while striking out 18. But he was pulled from his third start and placed on the Injured List, and never quite bounced back.