Yesterday’s announcement that the L.A. Dodgers will re-sign lefty Odalis Perez for $24 million over three years effectively ends the Nats’ offseason moves.

Washington GM Jim Bowden had made no secret of his wish to acquire Perez to buoy the team’s frequently injured and frequently inaccurate pitching. The Distinguished Senators blog (which seems to be in need of a name change) argues that keeping Juan Rivera instead of Jose Guillen “would likely have left Jim Bowden enough cash to pick up Perez.” Perhaps, but even so the Nationals had to contend with the likes of the Marlins and the Mets — and, lest we forget, the Dodgers — so it may be a moot point. Some fans have been floating ideas for other trades, but at this point it’s more likely we’re going into the 2005 season with the Nationals we have, not the Nationals we want.

In related news, the Nats have released their spring training and regular schedules. The first game at RFK will be April 14, so hurry up and get those taxes done ahead of time. Speaking of hurrying, how are those renovations coming along?

(ESPN photo courtesy the amusingly named Lobsterbush.com.)