Reds pick up option on Cueto

Oct 30, 2014 - 6:24 PM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - The Cincinnati Reds exercised their club option on pitcher Johnny Cueto for the 2015 season on Thursday.

Cueto, who will earn $10 million in the upcoming season, compiled a 20-9 record with a 2.25 earned run average over 34 starts, a year removed from making only 11 starts in an injury-shortened 2013 campaign.

The right-hander tied Washington starter Stephen Strasburg with 242 strikeouts for best in the National League and became the Reds' first 20-game winner since Danny Jackson went 23-8 in 1988.

Over seven seasons with the Reds, the 28-year-old Dominican native has gone 85-57 with a 3.27 ERA and 995 strikeouts over 194 starts. Cueto has also gone 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA in three postseason contests.

The Reds declined the 2015 options for infielder Jack Hannahan and outfielder Ryan Ludwick.

Hannahan hit .188 with two RBI in 26 games last season, while Ludwick, a 12- year veteran, had nine home runs, 45 RBI and a .244 average over 112 games.