Cueto says his 2017 opt-out clause isn't a distraction

Now that Johnny Cueto has officially reported to spring training, the San Francisco Giants right-hander has a chance to build on his first season in the Bay Area after signing a six-year, $130-million deal in 2015.

The contract, however, comes with an interesting twist that would allow Cueto to opt out after this season. As most athletes tend to do, he said it won't be a distraction as he looks to help his team now and in the future.

"To me, this is just a regular year. I signed for five (more) years, and I'm not thinking anything past that. It's just another year for me," Cueto said, according to Chris Haft of MLB.com.

The 31-year-old right-hander is slated to earn $21 million per season until 2022, so while it would be a little surprising to see him exercise his opt-out clause, the possibility is there, as next year's free agents are expected to cash in significantly, particularly starting pitchers.

If Cueto either improves on or maintains his performance this year, he could look to make even more than his $21-million annual salary on the open market. Despite that, Cueto appears focused on the season at hand after combining to a 18-5 record in 2016 and the league's third best FIP (2.96).