Livan Wants To Be Nats Opening Day Starter

Bill Ladson at Nationals.com rites about Livan Hernandez and how he now wants to pitch for the Nationals and be their opening day starter:

Wednesday, Hernandez said he would like to play for the Nationals and be their Opening Day starter on March 30 against the Braves at the new Nationals Park.

Hernandez, 32, indicated that he wants to play where he is happy and he enjoyed his time with the Nationals/Expos for three-plus years. His time with Washington came to an end on Aug. 7, 2006, when general manager Jim Bowden traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitchers Matt Chico and Garrett Mock. The Nationals were looking to rebuild their farm system when the trade was made.

"I was the Opening Day starter when the Nationals came to Washington [in 2005]. It would be nice to have that same feeling [at the new park]. Sometimes, it's not about the money. It's how you feel," Hernandez said by phone. "I would love to go to Washington. There are things to do over there. Maybe the [Nationals'] budget [is low]. I'm willing to work with anything."