The baseball free-agent market has just gotten deeper.
The Miami Marlins have officially announced that they won’t be exercising their club options on two former all-star pitchers of theirs.
Miami declined the club options on Johnny Cueto and Matt Barnes.
According to the New York Post, Cueto’s $10.5 million option will be bought out for $2.5 million, while Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extrabase reports that Barnes’ $9 million option will be bought out for $2.25 million.
Marlins Decline Club Options On Johnny Cueto, Matt Barnes https://t.co/LyEu3BaNdq pic.twitter.com/Vz7mN6biNC
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) November 6, 2023
Cueto, who signed a one-year contract worth $8.5 million in guaranteed money last winter, failed to live up to expectations, registering a disappointing 6.02 ERA over just 52 1/3 innings across 13 appearances.
His season was marred by a string of injuries, including a prolonged stint on the injured list due to right biceps tightness and a 15-day IL trip caused by a viral infection towards the end of August.
As the 2024 season approaches, Cueto, now heading into his 17th Major League season and at the age of 38, has yet to show any signs of retirement.
However, given his lackluster performance in Miami, it’s likely that he’ll have to settle for a minor league deal, although his past success, notably a 3.35 ERA in 2022 with the White Sox, might still earn him some consideration from other teams.
Similarly plagued by injuries, Barnes saw his 2023 campaign cut short by a hip surgery in July after struggling to a 5.48 ERA in 21 1/3 innings.
Having acquired Barnes in a trade with the Red Sox last offseason, the Marlins seemed to have little to lose, particularly since Boston had covered a significant portion of Barnes’ 2023 salary.
Do either Cueto or Barnes have anything left in the tank?
Where do you think they’ll end up landing???