Marlins signing veteran pitcher Johnny Cueto, a move that gives options to assembling rotation

Starting pitching was already the strength of the Miami Marlins’ roster.

They are bolstering that group about a month ahead of spring training.

The Marlins are signing veteran right-handed pitcher Johnny Cueto to a one-year deal with an option for the 2024 season, a source confirmed to the Miami Herald on Tuesday morning.

Cueto will make $8.5 million this season. The club option for 2024 is $10.5 million club option, with a $2.5 million buyout if not enacted. The deal is pending a physical, and the Marlins will need to make a corresponding move to put Cueto on the 40-man roster.

Cueto, who turns 37 on Feb. 15, is entering his 16th MLB season. He’s a two-time All-Star and won a World Series in 2015. For his career, he had a 3.44 ERA with 1,812 strikeouts against 619 walks over 2,192 2/3 innings spanning 355 games (353 starts).

He pitched in 25 games and threw 158 1/3 innings last season for the Chicago White Sox and compiled a 3.35 ERA, 102 strikeouts and just 33 walks in his 25 outings, which included one complete game.

Prior to pitching for the White Sox, Cueto had stints with the Cincinnati Reds (2008-2015), Kansas City Royals (2015) and San Francisco Giants (2016-2021).

Cueto gives the Marlins another viable starting pitching option for their rotation that already has a bounty of young pitching.

Sandy Alcantara, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner leads the group. Fellow righties Pablo Lopez and Edward Cabrera as well as lefties Jesus Luzardo, Braxton Garrett and Trevor Rogers are all in the mix for five rotation spots as well, plus Miami has the likes of prospects Eury Perez, Jake Eder and Dax Fulton on the rise plus Max Meyer (who will be out in 2023 after undergoing Tommy John Surgery). Sixto Sanchez, who hasn’t pitched in a live game since the 2020 playoffs, could also be an option if

Cueto either could be an insurance option for a Marlins staff that has dealt with its share of injuries. Cabrera, Luzardo, Garrett and Rogers all missed time last season and 2022 was the only time Lopez pitched a full season.

Now, Cueto has dealt with his share of injuries as well. Last season was the first time he pitched more than 150 innings in a season since 2016, the final of three consecutive seasons in which he pitched over 200 innings.

He pitched in just 72 games and posted a 4.38 ERA from 2017-2021 before bouncing back in 2022.

It could also be a sign that Miami plans to move one of its younger pitchers to help improve the offense — the Marlins still can upgrade in center field and need a second first baseman.

High-end pitching under team control is always in high demand, and the Marlins’ rotation is filled with that. Lopez is under team control for two more years. Rogers and Luzardo are under team control for four more years. Cabrera and Garrett are under team control for five more years.

Miami Herald senior baseball correspondent Craig Mish contributed to this report.