Nationals Agree to Terms with Miguel Batista on Minor League Contract, Spring Training Invite

By MASN Staff

Nationals

March 29, 2010, 9:15am

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The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Miguel Batista on a minor-league contract that includes a Spring Training invitation. Nationals Senior Vice President & General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Batista is 95-108 with 39 saves and a 4.54 ERA in 530 games/237 starts spanning 15 seasons with Seattle, Arizona, Toronto, Kansas City, Montreal, Chicago (NL), Florida and Pittsburgh. The 38 year-old Batista went 7-4 with 14 holds, one save and a 4.04 ERA in 56 appearances last season with the Mariners. Batista pitched exclusively in relief for Seattle, the first time he had done so since recording 31 saves as Toronto's closer in 2005. He won a career-high 16 games for Seattle in 2007. Batista, who has had success in both starting and relief roles, started at least 29 games five times in six seasons from 2002-07. Batista has posted five double-digit win seasons to his credit, but is perhaps best remembered for tossing 8.0 scoreless innings in the 2001 World Series to help the Diamondbacks claim their first World Championship.