Lefty
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- Joined
- Jul 4, 2002
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I would hate to see Batista not here next year.
DENVER - Miguel Batista has as many wins as any Diamondbacks pitcher, holds a 3.26 road ERA and threw a career-high 193 1/3 innings.
But there's a chance Batista pitched his final game in a Diamondbacks uniform yesterday, when the bullpen failed to hold a three-run lead for him during a five-run sixth.
The Diamondbacks still managed to pull out an 8-7 win on Quinton McCracken's two-out RBI single in the ninth.
The Diamondbacks hold a $5 million option on Batista but have several options. They could elect to give him a $300,000 buyout and hope to re-sign him at a lower rate for 2004.
But with starters Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and Elmer Dessens already under contract for $32 million and National League Rookie of the Year candidate Brandon Webb under control for two more years, the Diamondbacks could decide to cut costs by dipping into their farm system.
That would leave left-hander Chris Capuano, who will start tomorrow against St. Louis, John Patterson and Edgar Gonzalez competing for the final spot in the rotation.
General manager Joe Garagiola Jr. has declined to discuss any personnel decisions until after the season.
Batista said he hadn't been told whether the Diamondbacks had made a decision on his contract status and wasn't surprised that he hadn't learned of his fate with the team.
He said Garagiola told him he would wait until the end of the season before talking to the team's free agents.
Batista, 32, has been praised for his charity work, and he indicated a willingness to return for at least a fourth season. "I like it here," Batista said. "This is the only place where I can be me."
Batista finished the season with a 10-9 record and 3.54 ERA in 36 games. He was 10-7 with a 3.47 ERA in 29 starts.
Notable: Rookie first baseman Lyle Overbay said he will undergo surgery on his nose soon to repair a deviated septum.
DENVER - Miguel Batista has as many wins as any Diamondbacks pitcher, holds a 3.26 road ERA and threw a career-high 193 1/3 innings.
But there's a chance Batista pitched his final game in a Diamondbacks uniform yesterday, when the bullpen failed to hold a three-run lead for him during a five-run sixth.
The Diamondbacks still managed to pull out an 8-7 win on Quinton McCracken's two-out RBI single in the ninth.
The Diamondbacks hold a $5 million option on Batista but have several options. They could elect to give him a $300,000 buyout and hope to re-sign him at a lower rate for 2004.
But with starters Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and Elmer Dessens already under contract for $32 million and National League Rookie of the Year candidate Brandon Webb under control for two more years, the Diamondbacks could decide to cut costs by dipping into their farm system.
That would leave left-hander Chris Capuano, who will start tomorrow against St. Louis, John Patterson and Edgar Gonzalez competing for the final spot in the rotation.
General manager Joe Garagiola Jr. has declined to discuss any personnel decisions until after the season.
Batista said he hadn't been told whether the Diamondbacks had made a decision on his contract status and wasn't surprised that he hadn't learned of his fate with the team.
He said Garagiola told him he would wait until the end of the season before talking to the team's free agents.
Batista, 32, has been praised for his charity work, and he indicated a willingness to return for at least a fourth season. "I like it here," Batista said. "This is the only place where I can be me."
Batista finished the season with a 10-9 record and 3.54 ERA in 36 games. He was 10-7 with a 3.47 ERA in 29 starts.
Notable: Rookie first baseman Lyle Overbay said he will undergo surgery on his nose soon to repair a deviated septum.
