Reds reunion with Johnny Cueto is now off the table

The Cincinnati Reds have been in the market for a veteran starting pitcher all offseason. Rumors were swirling earlier this winter about a potential reunion with former starter Johnny Cueto. Those rumors can now be put to bed after Cueto signed a deal with the Miami Marlins.

Cueto was a starter in Cincinnati for eight seasons before being dealt to the Kansas City Royals at the 2015 trade deadline. Cueto helped KC secure the World Series that season and then joined the San Francisco Giants on a massiv e six-year deal.

Cueto joined the Chicago White Sox last season and showed the baseball world that he still had something left in the tank. Cueto went 8-10 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 games for the South Siders. The two-time All-Star will now enjoy the sun and surf of South Beach for a season. Cueto signed a one-year/$8.5M contract with an option for 2024.

Reds reunion with Johnny Cueto is now off the table.

The Cincinnati Reds will now go back to the drawing board after losing out on Johnny Cueto. Of course, after signing outfielder Wil Myers to a one-year deal last month, the prospects of Cueto rejoining his former team took a big hit.

Cincinnati has very little money to play with in free agency, so look for the ole Redlegs to bolster the backend of their rotation with a couple minor league signings. Chase Anderson has seemed like a candidate all along to receive such an offer from Cincinnati. Of course, Justin Dunn, Luis Cessa, and Connor Overton will be in the mix as well.

The Reds will have Nick Lodolo, Graham Ashcraft, and Hunter Greene in line to take the ball every fifth day in 2023. Young guns like Brandon Williamson and Levi Stoudt will also be given a chance to spring training to prove they're ready for The Show.

Missing out on Johnny Cueto wasn't a gut-punch to the Cincinnati Reds, but the fanbase surely would've loved to see their former ace back in the Queen City. It would now appear as though Reds fans will have to tune in to Bally Sports Florida in order to watch Cueto pitch.