SAN FRANCISCO–Johnny Cueto has a decision to make.
Opt in, and stay with the Giants for the remaining four seasons on his contract. Or opt out, and enter free agency.
After Sunday’s 5-4 victory over the San Diego Padres, Cueto spoke with reporters through interpreter Erwin Higueros about his future, and openly discussed the possibilities that await him.
“Of course I would like to come back,” Cueto said. “I feel that we have a winning team. I like how the fans support us and obviously I like the front office and everybody that is involved with the Giants.”
When Cueto was asked directly about whether he’d like to stay in San Francisco, he joked and said, “I don’t know, maybe, I mean, I’m sure I will,” and then laughed.
Cueto said that even though the Giants didn’t come close to living up to expectations this year, he thinks the Giants are capable of winning in the future. He said that the 2017 season was a challenging year for him personally, but that he’d be doing everything in his power to prepare himself for Spring Training in 2018.
“It was a difficult year, obviously we didn’t win,” Cueto said. “We tried, my teammates didn’t win like we wanted to. Also, you have the fact I had issues with my dad, he wasn’t feeling well. I will continue doing the same thing, getting myself mentally ready and physically ready and just show up next year ready to win.”
Cueto also said that his agent will meet with general manager Bobby Evans to discuss Cueto’s options, but he did indicate that he’d be open to finishing his career in San Francisco.
“I don’t know, but I know that the decision is going to come down to my agent and the GM when they talk. Of course I would like to stay here and finish my career here in San Francisco.”