Late Monday, the Chicago White Sox agreed to a one-year, $4.2 million minor league deal with right-handed pitcher Johnny Cueto of the San Francisco Giants. The new deal is low-risk for the White Sox, who are desperately looking for rotation arms, and includes a May 15 opt-out that Cueto can exercise should he not be moved into the majors by that date.
Cueto signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 2004 as an undrafted amateur free agent for a $35,000 signing bonus. While he was in the minor leagues, Cueto was named the Reds’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year for two years in a row before making his MLB debut for the team on April 3, 2008.