The Marlins declined Cueto's $10.5 million option for 2024 on Sunday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Cueto will get a $2.5 buyout and is now a free agent. The 37-year-old hurler struggled during his lone season in Miami, collecting a 6.02 ERA over 13 appearances (10 starts). Cueto might have to settle for a minor-league contract this offseason if he wants to continue his career.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Not on wild-card roster
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Cueto is not on the Marlins' roster for their NL Wild Card Series matchup against the Phillies that begins Tuesday.
Cueto logged only 52.1 innings (10 starts, three relief appearances) for Miami during the 2023 regular season while struggling to a 6.02 ERA. The 37-year-old right-hander carries a $10.5 million club option (or $2.5 million buyout) for the 2024 campaign.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: No-decision in twin bill
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Cueto came away with a no-decision in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk over 4.1 innings in a 4-2 win for the Marlins. He struck out four.
The veteran right-hander exited the game after 73 pitches (47 strikes) with the score tied 2-2, and both runs came on solo shots by Francisco Lindor. Cueto continues to have difficulty keeping the ball in the park -- since the beginning of August, he's served up 13 long balls in only 36.1 innings, leading to a 6.44 ERA -- but this time he avoided serving them up with runners on base. The Marlins head into Thursday tied with the Cubs for the final wild-card spot in the NL, and should a playoff berth still be on the line, Cueto could be available for the final game of the regular season Oct. 1 in Pittsburgh.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Will start nightcap Wednesday
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Cueto will start for the Marlins in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Cueto's last two appearances have come in relief, and he's managed just a 6.64 ERA in nine starts this season. The Marlins' hands are tied, though, between injuries and Tuesday's rainout, so they'll give Cueto another shot. Miami has not yet announced any of their starters for their weekend series in Pittsburgh, but it should be all hands on deck.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Works out of bullpen again
Rotowire
Cueto made a one-inning appearance in relief in Friday's 16-1 loss to the Brewers, retiring the side on six pitches.
After failing to deliver a quality start while logging a 6.69 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over a stretch of seven outings, Cueto appears to have been moved to the bullpen. He's made both of his two appearances this week as a reliever, with Friday's cameo coming after he gave up two earned runs over two innings while mopping up in Wednesday's 8-3 loss to the Mets. Edward Cabrera appears poised to stick around as Miami's No. 5 starter while Cueto has been relegated to a relief role.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Short outing against Atlanta
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Cueto allowed three earned runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out two across four innings Friday against Atlanta. He did not factor into the decision.
Cueto got through his first two innings unscathed but struggled to conclude the outing, including serving up a solo home run to Michael Harris to lead off the third frame. Since returning from the injured list, Cueto has allowed 11 earned runs across 12.2 frames and three starts. Cueto has also failed to work more than four innings in either of his last two appearances.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Early exit in Saturday's loss
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Cueto (1-4) took the loss Saturday as the Marlins were downed 8-4 by the Phillies, surrendering five runs on five hits and three walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out three.
All five runs scored in a disastrous second inning that put Miami in a hole its offense couldn't climb out of, and Cueto got the hook in the fourth after 92 pitches (61 strikes). It's the first time in seven starts the 37-year-old righty has failed to complete five innings, but he hasn't exactly been effective over that stretch, posting a 5.84 ERA through 37 innings thanks to 10 homers allowed despite a solid 1.22 WHIP and 32:12 K:BB. The Marlins remain in the NL wild-card hunt, sitting 1.5 games behind the Diamondbacks for the third and final spot heading into Sunday, but unless Sandy Alcantara (forearm) makes a heroic return, Cueto isn't likely to be dropped from the rotation. He faces a potentially tough matchup in his next outing, as he lines up to take the mound next weekend in a home series against Atlanta.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Nabs first win in return
Rotowire
Cueto (1-3) earned the win Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over five innings against the Nationals. He struck out four.
Cueto allowed one run through the first four innings before surrendering solo homers in the fifth and sixth. However, by that point, Miami had already backed the veteran right-hander with plenty of run support in his first start since returning from a stint on the 15-day injured list due to an illness, helping him seal his first win of the 2023 campaign. Cueto still has not allowed more than four runs in any start this season, though he's now given up at least three runs in five straight. He's also surrendered two home runs in three consecutive outings and in four of his last five.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Marlins activated Cueto (illness) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Saturday against the Nationals, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
A viral infection sent Cueto to the IL on Aug. 21, but he will be able to return to the Marlins' rotation after a minimum-length stay. The 37-year-old righty has put up a 5.08 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 28.1 innings across his last five starts.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Throwing live BP
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Cueto (illness) threw live batting practice Tuesday in Miami, Paige Leckie of MLB.com reports.
Cueto faced hitters for the first time since he landed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 21 because of a viral infection. Assuming he doesn't require a minor-league rehab assignment, Cueto could be a candidate to return from the IL and rejoin the Miami rotation for this weekend's series in Washington. The veteran right-hander has posted a 5.57 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB across just 32.1 major-league innings for Miami in 2023.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Plays catch Wednesday
Rotowire
Cueto (illness) was spotted playing catch on the field Wednesday prior to the Marlins' game in San Diego, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Cueto was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday after falling ill due to a viral infection, but the fact that he remained on the Marlins' road trip and is now playing catch just two days later offers hope that he'll be in line for a minimum-length stay on the shelf. The Marlins have off days coming up Thursday and next Monday and should be able to get by with a four-man rotation until Cueto potentially makes his return from the IL over Labor Day weekend.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Sent to injured list
Rotowire
Cueto was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday with a viral infection, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
It's unclear exactly what is ailing Cueto, but it will prevent him from making at least a couple of starts.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Tagged for five runs in no-decision
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Cueto did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks over 5.1 innings against Houston. He struck out three.
After cruising through his first three frames, Cueto surrendered two runs on a Yainer Diaz homer in the fourth before the Astros added three more runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Cueto's now allowed three or more runs in each of his last four outings. The veteran right-hander is 0-3 with a 5.57 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB across six starts (32.1 innings) this season. Cueto will look to get into the win column in his next outing, currently scheduled for next week in San Diego.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Allows three runs over five frames
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Cueto did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over five innings against the Reds while striking out five.
Cueto cruised through the first three innings before surrendering three consecutive hits with two outs in the fourth, two of which left the park to put the Reds up 3-1. The right-hander did manage to get out of the inning, however, and was able to log at least five innings for the fourth straight start. Over that stretch he's recorded a solid 22:5 K:BB, though he's now allowed five home runs over his last three outings. Cueto will look to grab his first win of the season next week when the Marlins take on the Astros at home.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Takes third loss
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Cueto (0-3) took the loss Thursday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over six innings against Philadelphia. He struck out four.
Cueto got himself into trouble in the top of the second after walking Nick Castellanos to start the inning. The right-handed veteran then served up a hanging cutter to J.T. Realmuto two batters later, leading to a two-run shot to put the Marlins down 2-0. Cueto would actually go on to shut out the Phillies over the next four innings before surrendering back-to-back singles and a walk to open the seventh, which led to two more runs coming home. He's now allowed four runs in each of his last two starts, though he's also made it through six innings in three straight.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Allows two homers in loss
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Cueto (0-2) took the loss Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk over six innings against Detroit. He struck out five.
Most of the damage against Cueto came in the top of the second inning, when he surrendered a three-run blast to Akil Baddoo to put the Marlins in an early hole. The right-hander would then give up a second home run to Riley Greene to lead off the sixth before eventually being tagged with his second loss in four starts this season. On a positive note, Cueto has now gone six innings in back-to-back starts, posting a 13:2 K:BB over that stretch.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Gets another start
Rotowire
Cueto is listed as the Marlins' probable starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the Tigers at LoanDepot Park.
Rather than bringing back standout rookie Eury Perez from the minors to step back in as their fifth starter, the Marlins will turn to Cueto make a second straight turn through the rotation. Though he was hit hard in his first start of the season with the Marlins on April 3 and then continued to struggle during an extended minor-league rehab assignment, Cueto has been surprisingly effective since being activated from the 60-day injured list July 10. After tossing three scoreless innings in relief July 16 in Baltimore, Cueto picked up a start last Saturday against the Rockies and struck out eight over six innings of one-run ball.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Dominant over six frames
Rotowire
Cueto did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk over six innings in a 4-3 loss against the Rockies. He struck out eight.
Cueto had it going early, retiring the first eight batters he faced, five by way of strikeout, as the Marlins took a 1-0 lead. The veteran righty would allow only four baserunners over his six innings of work while recording a season-high eight strikeouts. Cueto had previously recorded just one strikeout through his only two appearances coming into Saturday and is still searching for his first win following the impressive outing.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Starting Saturday vs. Rockies
Rotowire
Cueto will get the start Saturday against the Rockies, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The veteran most recently pitched three scoreless innings out of the bullpen July 16 in Baltimore, so he should be stretched out enough to qualify for the win if he pitches well Saturday. However, Cueto has 14 strikeouts in 29 minor-league innings and one strikeout in four innings in the big leagues, so he will be attempting to get by on weak contact and he has limited fantasy upside due to his lack of strikeouts. Cueto could transition back to a long-relief role when Eury Perez is brought back from Triple-A, perhaps as early as next week.
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Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Expected back after break
Rotowire
Cueto (biceps) will be activated from the 60-day injured list after the All-Star break, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.
Mish notes that Cueto's role hasn't yet been determined, although the Marlins opened up a spot in the rotation when they sent down Eury Perez on Friday. Cueto has missed most of this season with a biceps injury and has not pitched well on his rehab assignment, having allowed 18 runs over 15.1 innings in three starts with Triple-A Jacksonville. He'll make what's expected to be his final rehab start with Jacksonville on Saturday.
