The Miami Marlins have declined club options on veteran pitchers Johnny Cueto and Matt Barnes. Both pitchers will now become free agents.
Per Daniel Alvarez-Montes on social media:
The #Marlins declined the club options for RHP Matt Barnes ($8MM) and RHP Johnny Cueto ($10.5MM), who will become free agents.
Barnes gets a $2.25MM buyout. Cueto a $2.5MM buyout.
There is some additional talk on social media of Barnes actually receiving a slightly higher buyout, but regardless, neither player will be back in South Florida in 2024 - at least on these deals.
While the Marlins took a step forward in 2023 and made the playoffs, it was a down year for Cueto, who battled injury and ineffectiveness. The soon-to-be 38-year-old went just 1-4 with a 6.02 ERA. He made only 13 appearances (10 starts).
Despite the tough season, Cueto has had an excellent career. The 16-year veteran has played for the Reds, Royals, Giants, White Sox and Marlins, going 144-111 with a 3.50 ERA. He won the 2015 World Series with Kansas City and has been an All-Star twice. He won a career-high 20 games in the 2014 season with Cincinnati.
As for Barnes, he also struggled in Miami. A former All-Star and World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox, he went 1-0 with a 5.48 ERA in 24 games. He also battled injury.
Lifetime, he's 33-30 with a 4.13 ERA. He saved a career-high 24 games for the Red Sox in 2021. He won the title with Boston during the 2018 season.
More must-reads: