Padres decline option on Luebke

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SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have declined to exercise their $7.5 million option on left-hander Cory Luebke (Marion Local graduate), who has had two reconstructive elbow operations since 2012.

Luebke receives a $1.75 million buyout.

He was 10-12 with a 3.25 ERA from 2010-12.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Luebke, who had Tommy John surgery in 2012 and again in ‘13, is done with the Padres.

Both Luebke and general manager A.J. Preller indicated Wednesday that the door might still be open for the 30-year-old to return, possibly on a Minor League deal.

Luebke’s progress this past season was slowed by July surgery to remove loose bodies around a nerve in his forearm. He did appear in seven games at three Minor League stops, posting a 3.86 ERA in seven innings before being shut down.

He then had a staph infection six weeks following surgery that ruined any hopes of getting back into a regular-season game sometime late in the season.

“There were no surprises today,” Luebke said of having his option declined by the team. “Things haven’t gone as well as they could have the last few years. This year took a lot out of me. It’s not the way I wanted to end my season.”

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