The Washington Nationals announced Thursday they are declining the $3 million club option in the contract of relief pitcher Yusmeiro Petit for 2017. In turn, he'll receive a $500,000 buyout and head into free agency.
William Ladson of MLB.com passed along word of the team's decision.
Petit shined during the San Francisco Giants' run to the 2014 World Series. The Venezuelan reliever posted a 1.42 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with 13 strikeouts across 12.2 innings of work out of the bullpen, picking up three victories in the process.
The 31-year-old right-hander has never been able to match that type of success while pitching in the regular season, though.