Report: Johnny Cueto rejects $120 million offer from Diamondbacks

Free-agent pitcher Johnny Cueto has rejected a five-year, $120 million contract offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Free-agent pitcher Johnny Cueto has rejected a six-year, $120 million contract offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks, reports Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports confirmed the offer and reported that Cueto wants to explore his options in free agency.

The Diamondbacks, who finished 2015 with a 79–83 record and a 4.37 starting ERA, are seeking to add a starting pitcher in the $15 million to $18 million range annually, Rosenthal reports.

Cueto had played his entire eight-year career for the Cincinnati Reds before being traded to the Kansas City Royals at last season’s trade deadline. He pitched for a 5.40 ERA in four postseason starts for the World Series winners, highlighted by his two-hit complete game in Game 2 of the Series.

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Cueto, 29, was an All Star in 2014, when he threw a league-leading 243.2 innings for a 2.25 ERA. He had a 2.62 ERA in 19 starts for the Reds in 2015 before being traded to Kansas City, where he finished the season with a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts.

- Erin Flynn