Lost in the hullabaloo of Super Bowl Sunday (congratulations to the New York Giants and their fans), yesterday the Nationals announced that they have re-signed outfielder Rick Ankiel to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Ankiel, 32 years old, batted .239/.296/.363 with 9 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 415 at-bats last season in Washington. This spring, Ankiel will be competing with Roger Bernadina and Mike Cameron for bench outfielder positions, where his above-average defensive skills and left-handed bat likely gives him an advantage over the other two to make the Opening Day roster. In addition, if the Nationals decide to send Bryce Harper to the minor leagues to begin the season, the winner of this “Three-Way Dance” is in line to see significant time in center field early in the year.
Ankiel, owner of the strongest outfield arm in baseball, spent the majority of last season starting in center field and batting either leadoff or 2nd, although his career .246/.309/.423 batting line and proficiency to play all three outfield positions make him more suited to a reserve outfielder role rather than as a starter. Certainly Ankiel is not the permanent solution in center field GM Mike Rizzo and Nationals fans lusted for at the beginning of this off-season, however, his WAR (Wins Above Replacement) value for the past 5 seasons are 1.5, 1.9, 0.1, 0.8, 1.4, not spectacular numbers but certainly those of a deserving major leaguer capable of helping a team off the bench.
Obviously there is little to quibble about when signing a veteran player to a minor league contract due to the lack of risk, but I particularly like this addition, as Ankiel’s defense is first-rate and if protected in a rather strict platoon with a right-handed batter, he can adequately manage center field until midseason, when it is expected Bryce Harper will permanently arrive in Washington’s outfield. Once Harper debuts and the starting outfield consists of himself, Mike Morse, and Jayson Werth, Ankiel can then revert back to his more suited role as a backup outfielder and defensive replacement. While this signing is not as significant as Edwin Jackson or the acquisition of Gio Gonzalez earlier this winter, Ankiel’s versatility and left-handed power should improve the Nationals bench in 2012, making this a subtle, quality upgrade to the roster and one that should not be overlooked.
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