Miguel Batista

Miguel Descartes Batista Jerez is a professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. He was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on February 19, 1971.

Since making his Major League debut on April 11, 1992 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Batista has played for nine teams alternating between starting pitcher and relief pitcher. His best seasons came in 2001 and 2003 while playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He went 11-8 and 10-9 with 3.36 and 3.54 ERAs respectively.

Outside baseball, Batista is also an accomplished author, having written a Spanish poetry book "Sentimientos en Blanco y Negro" (Feelings in Black and White). He also published a thriller novel titled "The Avenger of Blood".

Over his career, Batista has played for eight teams and been utilized extensively as both a starter and a reliever. His best seasons came in 2001 and 2003 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, when he went 11-8 and 10-9 with 3.36 and 3.54 ERAs respectively. He signed a three-year $13.1-million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays prior to the 2004 season, but struggled in his first season with his new club, posting a 4.80 ERA and losing his starter's job late in the season.

In 2005, Batista was the Jays closer and blew 8 saves. He was put on the trading block after the Blue Jays signed B.J. Ryan to a large contract to be their new closer. They traded Batista back to the Diamondbacks during the 2005 offseason along with Orlando Hudson for Troy Glaus and prospect Sergio Santos.

Batista's 2006 record in Arizona was 11-8 with an ERA of 4.58. After the season, the Diamondbacks offered Batista arbitration, as he was a free agent, but Arizona was not willing to commit to a multi-year deal; in December, Batista signed a three-year contract with the Seattle Mariners worth $24 million. Batista had a solid first season with the Mariners, going 16-11 with a 4.29 ERA.