Nationals' Livan Hernandez to make retirement official

Washington Nationals right-hander Livan Hernandez will file his retirement papers this Thursday, officially ending his Major League Baseball playing career.

"This is the right time to do it," the pitcher said, via MLB.com's Bill Ladson. "I had a lot of stuff on my mind. I was going to wait for the right time."

Hernandez did not say what he will do with Washington after Spring Training, but the two sides are discussing options.

In 2005, he was the team's Opening Day starter in its inaugural season in the District, throwing the franchise's first pitch. Now 38, he returned to the team for Spring Training this year as a coach and team ambassador. Despite not playing in the majors since 2012, he'd never retired from the game.

Hernandez completed the rare five-man reunion at Nationals camp this spring.