San Francisco Giants: Mid-May Mailbag and New Podcast

Daniel: This is also one of my biggest concerns. If he opts in, the Giants are going to pay him $21 million until at least his age 35 season (2021). He has a team option for 2022, at $22 million. If the Giants opt out for 2022, then he is owed $5million to buy-out that year. That’s a lot of money to be paying for someone in their thirties. I would like to think it will all be peachy keen, and he’ll be elite every season. However, I think the Giants should be worried if he doesn’t return to 2016 form this season. Is his decline now? Or will it be in his age 33-35 seasons? Who knows. But it’s a dangerous line for them to walk. The big thing is who would they pay to replace him? There aren’t very many enticing guys to fill his spot via free agency. So we’ll see what happens.

Jake: I think a lot depends on how this season plays out. If the Giants can’t get back in the race for the playoffs, then maybe they go a different direction this offseason and let Cueto go if he does opt out, which he should. Just because the Giants have the money, doesn’t mean they should just throw it away. If Cueto continues to show signs of decline and the Giants aren’t winning, I’m not in favor of giving a 32-year-old pitcher a bunch of money.