Lugo made his MLB debut with the Mets in 2016 and was a mainly a relief pitcher in New York before joining the Padres in free agency after the 2022 season. There, he transitioned into a full-time starter.

Buxton is 31, owed around $45 million from 2026-28 for a team that counts pennies, and has dealt with wrist, thumb, groin, head, toe, shoulder, hip, hand, and knee injuries, just to name a few, which too often have hindered one of the most-hyped prospects ever in an 11-year career.