--LHP Odalis Perez said he would stay in Washington until December, when his wife is scheduled to give birth, and might go to the Dominican Republic to pitch in winter ball after that. But the upcoming free agent reiterated after his final start of the season that he'd like to return to the Nationals next year. "If this team gives me an opportunity for next year, or the next two years, I'd be happy to do it," Perez said. "I feel comfortable. I would love to come back."
--OF Willie Harris finished a career year, hitting .251, driving in 43 runs and hitting 13 homers -- or six more than he'd had in his whole career before this season. Harris is arbitration-eligible after the season and has discussed a new deal with the Nationals. He said he'd like to return -- "I'm tired of bouncing around," he said -- but if the Nationals don't bring him back, the 30-year-old said he would "just keep moving." --LHP Mike Hinckley finished the season with 13 2/3 scoreless innings in a September call-up. Hinckley, who became a reliever this spring after slipping through the Nationals' farm system as a starter, has the inside track on making the team next spring as a left-handed specialist.
--2B Anderson Hernandez finished with a .333 batting average in 28 games with the Nationals this season. Hernandez, who was acquired in a trade that sent RHP Luis Ayala to the Mets in August, will have the inside track to be the permanent starter at second base next year.
--RHP Shairon Martis threw 2 1/3 innings out of the bullpen in the season finale after a rainout last week bumped the Nationals' rotation back a day and cancelled his final start of the year. The 21-year-old went 1-3 with a 5.66 ERA and started four games during a September call-up.
BY THE NUMBERS: 1976 -- The last season before 2008 in which the Expos/Nationals franchise lost 100 games.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Everyone has been upfront with the fans from the very beginning, and they understand. Does anyone like losing 90 games? No, nobody likes that." -- GM Jim Bowden, on the Nationals' struggles this season. The team finished a major league-worst 59-102.
