"Rick Ankiel, the Nationals' newest outfielder, said he chose the Nationals over a handful of other interested teams because of his solid relationships with Manager Jim Riggleman and hitting coach Rick Eckstein from their days with the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as the opportunity to earn playing time as part of a 2011 outfield rotation.

Ankiel, speaking by phone from his West Palm Beach, Fla. home, said he has worked with Eckstein over the past few off-seasons, and called him "one of the best at what he does."

"It's a situation where I'm really comfortable with those guys," he said of Eckstein and Riggleman. "Rick has a way of making you understand what you need to do to be successful."

Ankiel, 31, split his 2010 season between Kansas City and Atlanta, hitting a combined .232 with six homers and 24 RBI, but also missed about half the season with a strained hamstring. "