WASHINGTON (AP) -Closer Chad Cordero, reliever Ryan Wagner and infielder Pete Orr opted to become free agents Thursday, when the last-place Washington Nationals began what could be a busy offseason by outrighting the trio to Triple-A Syracuse.
The Nationals also rejected their $5 million club option for 2009 on outfielder Wily Mo Pena, but he exercised his $2 million option.
Pena hit .205 with only two homers and 10 RBIs in 195 at-bats this season before having an operation on his left shoulder in July.
Cordero appeared in only six games before undergoing season-ending surgery on his pitching shoulder. The right-hander led the majors with 47 saves in 2005, and he leaves the Nationals with 128 career saves, second to Jeff Reardon’s 152 in franchise history.
Wagner missed all of 2008 after shoulder surgery in June 2007, and Orr hit .253 with seven RBIs in 49 games with Washington this year.
The Nationals went 59-102 this season, the worst record in the major leagues.
o assistant director of baseball operations.
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