The Reds and Johnny Cueto avoided arbitration forever with a four-year deal:

Right-handed pitcher Johnny Cueto and the Cincinnati Reds avoided their first salary arbitration, agreeing to a four-year, $27 million contract extension, a source told ESPNdeportes.com.

The agreement is pending a physical exam.

The Dominican starter had requested a salary of $3.9 million for 2011 and the team offered $3 million in arbitration.

The deal includes Cueto’s first year of free agency. That locks up his early prime years, ages 25-28. He’ll still be young enough to do very well as a free agent.