has declined a $7.5MM player option with the Padres, reports Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 ( ). Hes a free agent and will be permitted to commence negotiations with other teams on Monday. This was one of the leagues easiest opt- Jordan Romano Jersey out decisions. Lugo inked a two-year, $15MM guarantee last winter. A longtime reliever with the Mets, he prioritized finding a rotation job. Lugo sought to demonstrate he could hold up as a starter before getting back to the open market. He did just that. The right-hander worked 146 2/3 innings acro s 26 starts, pitching to a 3.57 ERA. Lugo struck out a solid 23.2% of opposing hitters while keeping his walks to a tidy 6% clip. Now that he has established himself as a mid-rotation starter, he should find a much better guarantee than he had 12 months ago. Even a couple weeks from his 34th birthday, Lugo has a good case for a three-year pact. The Padres could i sue Lugo a $20.325MM qualifying offer. Its questionable whether theyre willing to risk that kind of one-year salary in an offseason in which theyre expected to slice payroll. San Diego also faces the potential departures of , and (the latter two of whom have complicated option decisions in their contracts) from a rotation theyll need to addre s over the coming months. Jonathan Davis Jersey