Johnny Cueto DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington announced on Tuesday that starting pitcher Johnny Cueto will start Wednesday's game against the hosting Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. It's set to be Cueto's first major-league appearance of 2024 on Wednesday, as he's currently part of the Angels' taxi squad. The 38-year-old veteran right-hander will hold little to no fantasy appeal in a difficult spot on the road against a solid Royals lineup, having posted a 4.76 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 49 strikeouts and 13 walks over 64 1/3 innings (13 starts) in the minor leagues this year.

Free agent pitcher Johnny Cueto signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. Cueto had been signed to the Texas Rangers and was hoping to be able to snag a spot in their rotation but that chance ultimately didn't arise. The 38-year-old exercised the opt-out in his minor league deal with the Rangers earlier in July and now has found a home with the Angels. Cueto posted a 5.92 ERA in 38 innings with Triple-A Round Rock. He will likely need to improve those numbers in the Angels' minor league system before jumping into their rotation. Fantasy managers don't need to rush to add Cueto to their rosters as his current minor league ERA and his 2023 ERA of 6.02 with the Miami Marlins don't point towards future success in the final years of his career.

The Texas Rangers have signed starting pitcher Johnny Cueto to a minor-league contract on Tuesday. The 38-year-old lands a deal with the defending World Series champions after a rough year with the Miami Marlins. Cueto posted a 6.02 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 39/15 K/BB ratio over 52 1/3 innings with the Marlins last season. It's uncertain what Cueto still has left in the tank, but he'll at least be additional depth for the organization. Cueto has plenty of experience but is unlikely to offer any kind of fantasy value.