The Washington Nationals have signed utilityman Marlon Anderson to a two-year contract. The 31-year-old Anderson hit .264 with seven homers and 19 RBI in 123 games for the New York Mets last season. As a pinch-hitter he went 18-for-56, a .321 average, with one home run and six RBI. He finished second in pinch-hits and fourth in pinch-hit average last season. The veteran is 45-for-146, a .308 average, with seven home runs in the pinch- hitting role throughout his career. "Marlon Anderson has been one of the best left-handed pinch-hitters in baseball the last three years," said Nationals vice president and general manager Jim Bowden. "One of our goals this offseason was to improve our bench, especially from the left side of the plate. Marlon's signing addresses this issue, and adds a veteran presence in our clubhouse." Over eight seasons he has appeared in 860 games, hitting .264, with 47 home runs and 296 RBI while playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets.