Daily News: League sources indicated that the Phillies are intrigued by Miguel Batista, the 35-year-old righthander who went 11-8 in 33 (4.58 ERA, 206 IP) starts with the Arizona Diamondbacks last season after pitching exclusively in relief for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2005.
Beerleaguer take: There’s something hypocritical in my initial negative reaction to this rumor, after a solid endorsement of last week’s contract extension to Jamie Moyer, who's nine years older.
At first, this sounds like another futile patch-up job, another multi-purpose veteran without any upside. That’s probably true. Batista wouldn’t be special, or surprising. The right-hander mixed in a number of bad starts with the D-backs, but also threw in a fair number of good ones, including three complete-game victories. He’s been a durable pitcher, tossing a career-high 206 innings last season.
Unlike Moyer, he’s very good with his homers, allowing just 18 in 2006, maybe the best ratio of his career. He can hit 93-95 MPH with his four-seam fastball, but his sinking fastball and cutter are his best pitches, making him suitable for Citizens Bank Park. His offspeed pitch makes him an ideal candidate for the back end of the bullpen, which is how he was used two seasons ago in Toronto.
The problem is he allows too many free passes, and there’s no room for that in the Phillies' bullpen. The team is reportedly serious about resigning Randy Wolf, which would shore up all five spots in the starting rotation. If the Phillies were to go ahead with this, they would likely move Batista to the back end of the bullpen to replace the hole vacated by Arthur Rhodes ... and replace he would. The two have very comparable strikeout/walk ratios.
In 71 relief appearances in 2005, he went 5-8 with a 4.10 ERA. That’s a problem for me; it’s far from exceptional. It’s not production you pony up $4.5 million to get. In fact, Batista ranked as only the 35th best reliever in the American League that season, according to Hardball Times Win Shares.
In comparison, he was the 31st best starting pitcher in the National League this season by the same measurement, only five places behind Brett Myers. Honestly, if Batista was given a spot in the rotation, it would make a nice wager whether Jon Lieber or Batista finish with the better season.
If the Phillies were to get both Batista and Wolf, I’d scratch my head for months on how best to use him. On a great team, with a great pitching staff, he would be a fine sixth starter and long man. There are plenty of opportunities for pitchers like Darren Oliver of the Mets, but are the Phillies willing to pay roughly $4.5 million for the luxury?
As a starter, I’d be hesitant of decline. Baseball Think Factory’s ZIPs projection has him at a 5.14 ERA with a 97/88 strikeout/walk ratio. That’s not very good, but I'd still lean closer toward a starting role than a late-inning stopper.
Additional discussion topic
The Phillies could convert Fabio Casto into a starter and begin his season in Class-AA Reading, according to a report on Phillies.com (Beerleaguer: Kind of a curious move. He had good success in limited chances out of the bullpen, which is an area of need, but the plan is to start anew in Double-A, and pursue more expensive veterans to fill spots in the bullpen. Philadelphia Phillies: Setting new standards for ingenuity and risk taking.)
Miguel Batista would be an ok 5th starter if we couldn't keep Wolf. However, Batista in the pen with his control issues spells disaster. I'd hope the Phils don't sign him.
Bullpen arm I want- Chad Bradford.
*About Castro- I don't understand the starting move. I'd say put him in Ottawa to start the season in their pen, or possibly let him earn a job with the Phils out of spring training. I just don't know if he has the pitching repetoire to start, much along the lines of Madson (although Madson doesn't even seem to be able to relieve effectively anymore).
Posted by: Drama Queen | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 11:17 AM
Miguel Batista does not excite me. If Batista has any merit that I need to know about to make me change my mind, I'm sure the Beerleaguer pundits will tell me.
Posted by: Lake Fred | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 12:45 PM
I'm not as bothered by Batista as some, assuming they don't sign him to a fat long-term contract. The starting 5 is not playoff caliber in large measure because they have no backup and odds that all 5 will last the season are slim. Batista is a guy who can slide right in if Lieber repeats his first half from last year or Wolf & Hamels get hurt. I agree with Jason that he shouldn't be used in any impotrant bullpen role.
On Castro, the kid has a live arm and they probably want to see what he can do as a starter. As far as I can tell he doesn't have enough pitches to be a starter, but I see nothing wrong with trying him out. He will NOT open the season in the majors.
Posted by: clout | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 01:29 PM
If Fabio has a round-trip ticket for Reading just to refine his pitches, I'm okay with it. He's very young. Still, I love the idea of grooming him to become a Ricardo Rincon-type specialist.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 01:36 PM
another 36 year old reliever with a walk problem at the back of the pen? not if we're serious.
actually, i think the castro move is the right one. stretch him out and let him work on keeping those pitches down. his biggest problem was that he threw too many pitches up in the zone. he can always go back to relief mid-season and can always be brought up easily. he's good a insurance policy for 07. of course, we all know the other options for the pen will be neddlessly more expensive, but until we figure out how to develop that talent, its always going to be that way. sanches and yoel hernandez have to take steps forward this year. when we talk about looking for more cost-effective options, these are the guys we're talking about.
Posted by: gr | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 01:54 PM
is it possible we're only looking at him in case Wolf doesn't re-sign here? Kind of a plan B?
Posted by: Will | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 02:05 PM
Go for some young arms. I'm tired of the aging relievers who don't have anything left. We have Gordon already- who does have something left in his arm. Bradford would be a good sign. Good pitcher whos effective and you take him from the Mutts.
As for Castro - Manuel won't use him so put him the minors and let him do some real pitching. He will only be a phone call away.
Posted by: Bob D | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 02:19 PM
If nothing else, Castro as starter gets him more innings.
In a thin pitching market, why not Batista? He'll bring some versatility to the staff - starter, long man, back-end. Or to borrow a take from an un-PC phrase from the '60's, when it comes to ML pitching: "Sign 'em now, sort 'em out later!"
Any thoughts on Adam Eaton? He's similar to Wolf but probably has slightly better stuff. On the downside, like Randy, he's a bullpen killer and gives up too many homers.
Might not be a good fit for CBP, but his name has been below the radar and he might be available at a relatively modest price.
Posted by: voice of reason | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 02:40 PM
He didn't have a great debut, but I still like Sanches quite a lot. He has some pretty good pop, but he looked a little nervous. I'd bring him along at a Geoff Geary pace.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 02:56 PM
Likewise Condrey. He showed some pretty good movement in several appearances. He's a middle-aged journeyman minor-leaguer, but he may be another pitcher, like Geary, who took awhile before he learned to pitch effectively. Might give an inning or two when the starter is gone after five.
Posted by: voice of reason | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 03:18 PM
VoR, I also thought the PHils might take a look at Eaton, since he's a former Paul Owens Award winner and all, but I don't know where he stands now health-wise. As for Castro, I would remind people that he was only in MLB because of the Rule 5 situation. He not only will get another year in the minors, it might be even longer before he comes back for good. Had he not been left unprotected he probably would have started last season in Single A. They will want him to start so he gets more innings, after a year of almost no use.
Posted by: Alby | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 03:37 PM
Jason, is Sanches another Geary or another Doug Nickle? I ask you (and other Beerleaguers) because you guys see a lot more of the minor leaguers than I get to.
Posted by: Alby | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 03:38 PM
Alby: He doesn't remind me of either of them. He's a little bigger and a little stronger than when I saw him in Reading. I met him at 2004 media day and twice called him by the wrong name. He's more of a power pitcher than Geary, excellent strikeout totals in Scranton. Most people don't know he's a former 2nd round pick of Kansas City. I see him taking a Geary-type path to the majors. He'll be between Scranton and Philadelphia again this season.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 03:46 PM
Sanches and Condrey both were impressive at times and should have shots at winning spots in next year's pen.
I am not crazy about Batista. As with others on here, walks scare me with regard to relievers. I would be surprised if both he and Wolf are on the team next year. Batista is someone who could be had at the trading deadline (if necessary).
It's time to say goodbye to Aaron Fultz and Rick White. It's also time to give Arthur Rhodes the boot in the ass he deserved half way through last season. We need some fresh faces in here who you don't have to second guess about when Charlie decides to make a move. They need to be able to get outs, no matter how often Charlie may go with them, cause we all know Charlie tends to get an a rut with regard to his bullpen pitchers.
Posted by: Jon | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 06:00 PM
Phillies intrigued by Batista? Ugh, sounds like a Rhodes redux to me. I smell late-inning trouble.
Posted by: zebulon | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 06:57 PM
Adam Eaton is a huge injury risk. He has good stuff, but he doesn't have good #'s over his career. And remember that new park in San Diego aided him for 2 seasons.
Posted by: Drama Queen | Wednesday, November 01, 2006 at 06:40 AM