Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - The Washington Nationals outrighted pitchers Chad Cordero and Ryan Wagner, and infielder Pete Orr to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday and announced that all three declined their assignments and opted to become free agents.

Cordero appeared in just six games this season and had a 2.08 earned run average. In six seasons, all with the Montreal/Washington franchise, he is 20-14 with a 2.78 ERA in 305 games.

Wagner did not pitch at all in 2007 due to a shoulder injury. Over five seasons in the majors, he is 11-9 in 148 appearances with a 4.79 ERA with Cincinnati and Washington.

Orr made 49 appearances this season and hit .253 with seven RBI. The 29-year- old has played in four seasons in the majors, three with Atlanta and last season with Washington, and is a career .261 hitter with two home runs and seven RBI.

Also on Thursday, the team rejected a $5 million option on outfielder Wily Mo Pena and he subsequently exercised a $2 million option for the 2009 season.

Pena batted .241 with 10 home runs and 32 RBI in 101 games last season with Washington. Over seven seasons with Cincinnati, Boston and Washington, he has a .253 average with 77 home runs and 225 RBI in 560 games.