Right-hander elected free agency after being designated for a signment by the Angels, . That indicates he first went unclaimed on waivers and then rejected an outright a signment to the minors. Cueto signed a minor league deal with the Angels in late July and was selected to the big league roster a month later. He to sed a quality start against the Royals in his first outing as an Angel before being tagged for six runs in five innings versus Detroit in his second start. Cueto pitched a total of 11 1/3 innings for the Halos, gave up nine runs (four homers) and posted a 6-to-3 K/BB ratio. That performance came on the heels of a nice run with Triple-A Salt Lake, where he posted a 3.09 ERA and 15-to-5 K/BB ratio in four starts a total of 23 1/3 innings. This years 91 mph average fastball was down from last season but not a career-low mark and not all that James Outman Jersey different from the 91.3 mph he averaged from 2018-22. Other clubs around the league can now mull a pickup of Cueto down the stretch if theyre looking for some veteran rotation depth. He wont be eligible for any teams playoff roster if he signs at this point, however. Its po sible Cueto simply waits until the offseason to sign another contract a suming hes intent on continuing his pitching career into his age-39 season. The 2023-24 seasons have been tough for the former All-Star. Cueto has been tagged for 6.22 ERA in 63 2/3 innings acro s the past two seasons, spending time with both the Marlins and Angels (in addition to a minor league run with the Rangers earlier this year). His 23 campaign was impacted by a biceps injury that limited him to 11 starts. As recently as 2022, Cueto was a quality big league hurler, making 24 starts for the White Sox and recording a 3.35 earned run average in 158 1/3 innings with a 15.7% strikeout rate and 5.1% walk rate. And, of course, Cueto was one of the games steadiest and most-productive pitchers in his peak. From 2010-16 the right-hander piled up 1294 2/3 innings of 2.86 ERA ball, striking out 20.6% of his opponents against a 6.2% walk rate. He had three top-six Cy Young finishes, two All-Star nods and won a World Series ring with the 2015 Royals along the way. In 2256 1/3 career innings, Cueto sports a 3.52 ERA and 144-113 record. Yoshinobu Yamamoto Jersey