Update: Ludwick officially declined his $5 million mutual option for the 2013 season on Wednesday, MLB.com's Mark SHeldon reports.
Recommendation: Ludwick is hoping to stay with the Reds, but after posting an .877 OPS and hitting 26 home runs for the Reds in 2012, he is hoping to get both more money and more years on his next contract. Ludwick is not a lock to return to Cincinnati, but consider the Reds the frontrunner for his services.
