Padres Rumors: Insider Believes Seth Lugo is Certain to Opt Out of 2024 Contract

More questions for the rotation abound.

Seth Lugo performed quite admirably in his first full season as a starter with San Diego in 2023. 

Set to his free agency after a stellar campaign, the Padres may lose one of their most consistent arms in a winter full of offseason questions. MLB insider Jon Heyman reported that Lugo is going to opt out.

Ex-Met Seth Lugo will opt out of his deal with $7.5M to go following his outstanding 2023 season in San Diego.

via Jon Heyman, NY Post

Lugo threw the most innings in his entire career this season after his five-year hiatus as a primary starter. 

The former long-time Met hadn't pitched more than 101 innings total before 2023 but went above and beyond that after he logged 146.1 as a Friar this season. 

New York's former bullpen option compiled an 8-7 record with a respectable 3.57 ERA and 140 punchouts through 26 starts in his first and possibly only season as a Padre. 

Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish and Michael Wacha all struggled with injury throughout the 2023 season and left Lugo and presumed NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell as the only healthy rotation options by year's end. 

Lugo silenced the Giants in the final start of his season after he came just one out shy of a complete game shutout on the road at Oracle Park. 

The impressive final showing could turn out to be his audition for another team as the Padres might be at Lugo's mercy thanks to a player option in his contract. 

Should Lugo opt for free agency he would join Snell on the open market after their respective dominant seasons, albeit to different standards for both. 

Snell's Cy Young caliber season is sure to bring his fair share of suitors but the Friars' other healthy starter from 2023 could be another option for teams who need rotational depth.