The Nationals have signed free-agent OF Rick Ankiel to a minor league contract, according to Amanda Comak of the Washington Times.

Last weekend, Andy Martino of the Daily News said the Mets were looking at Ankiel, Kosuke Fukudome, Raul Ibanez, and Johnny Damon as they search for a veteran left-handed bat for the bench.

Martino said the Mets had been paying close attention to Ankiel all winter. In early November, a team insider told Martino that Ankiel could be a short-term solution in center field for the Mets.

Ankiel, 32, hit .239 with 9 HR and 37 RBI over 380 at-bats for the Nationals in 2011. He made $1.5 million on a one-year deal last season.

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Vinny Cartiglia: All things considered, Ankiel intrigued me the most out of those Martino mentioned. He may never hit for a high average, but he could have provided some pop off the bench. His real value, however, would’ve been defensively, which was described to me as “jaw-dropping” by one Nationals fan. He can play all three outfield positions and the former pitcher arguably has the best outfield arm in baseball; as Mets fans may remember from last season when he gunned out Josh Thole at the plate.

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Michael Baron: At first, I wasn’t sold on Ankiel being a fit on the Mets roster. But he would’ve provided the strongest defense of any of the options out there – he has an amazing arm and could’ve given Terry a ton of late inning flexibility in the outfield (and provided the left-handed bat they seek).

Fukudome is the best remaining option now. He’s mostly played right field in his career, although he has played center on occasion. However, he’s not a notable defender in either spot. While Fukudome strikes out a lot, he also gets on base at a high rate and hits the ball consistently up the middle.

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