Tony Batista

Batista hit .263/.294/.463 (27 homers in 135 games) in the first year of a two-year contract in Japan last year, but after a bad week in the playoffs, he was released and got a buyout for the remaining year. If Batista wants to play baseball in 2006, he'll have to catch on with an MLB club, probably on a spring NRI. Had a 115-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio last year; guess he never figured out how to take a walk in Japanese, either.Batista played in Japan last season and hit .263 in 559 at-bats with 27 homers and 90 RBIs for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Pacific League. Before he left for Japan, Batista was a 30-HR threat in the majors, but with poor plate discipline. He could win a starting job at DH or 3B after signing a contract with the Twins. If he gets playing time, he'll be a good source of power but will be an anchor on your team's batting average. Batista hit .263/.294/.463 (27 homers in 135 games) in the first year of a two-year contract in Japan last year, but after a bad week in the playoffs, he was released and got a buyout for the remaining year. If Batista wants to play baseball in 2006, he'll have to catch on with an MLB club, probably on a spring NRI. Had a 115-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio last year; guess he never figured out how to take a walk in Japanese, either.Batista played in Japan last season and hit .263 in 559 at-bats with 27 homers and 90 RBIs for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Pacific League. Before he left for Japan, Batista was a 30-HR threat in the majors, but with poor plate discipline. He could win a starting job at DH or 3B after signing a contract with the Twins. If he gets playing time, he'll be a good source of power but will be an anchor on your team's batting average.

Batista hit .263/.294/.463 (27 homers in 135 games) in the first year of a two-year contract in Japan last year, but after a bad week in the playoffs, he was released and got a buyout for the remaining year. If Batista wants to play baseball in 2006, he'll have to catch on with an MLB club, probably on a spring NRI. Had a 115-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio last year; guess he never figured out how to take a walk in Japanese, either.Batista played in Japan last season and hit .263 in 559 at-bats with 27 homers and 90 RBIs for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Pacific League. Before he left for Japan, Batista was a 30-HR threat in the majors, but with poor plate discipline. He could win a starting job at DH or 3B after signing a contract with the Twins. If he gets playing time, he'll be a good source of power but will be an anchor on your team's batting average. Batista hit .263/.294/.463 (27 homers in 135 games) in the first year of a two-year contract in Japan last year, but after a bad week in the playoffs, he was released and got a buyout for the remaining year. If Batista wants to play baseball in 2006, he'll have to catch on with an MLB club, probably on a spring NRI. Had a 115-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio last year; guess he never figured out how to take a walk in Japanese, either.Batista played in Japan last season and hit .263 in 559 at-bats with 27 homers and 90 RBIs for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Pacific League. Before he left for Japan, Batista was a 30-HR threat in the majors, but with poor plate discipline. He could win a starting job at DH or 3B after signing a contract with the Twins. If he gets playing time, he'll be a good source of power but will be an anchor on your team's batting average.

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For the second consecutive season, Batista played 161 games and tired down the stretch. He hit .219 with 10 homers and 36 RBI after the All-Star break. He'll be a bargain free agent acquisition for some team.

Batista led the Orioles with 31 homers and 87 RBI in 2002, but saw his second half production drop (.217 after All-Star break) under the stress of playing 161 games and lack of other consistent power sources in the lineup. If the O's get a big bat in free agency, and a legitimate backup to rest him occasionally at third base, Batista should be a solid contributor all season batting cleanup. Batista led the Orioles with 31 homers and 87 RBI in 2002, but saw his second half production drop (.217 after All-Star break) under the stress of playing 161 games and lack of other consistent power sources in the lineup. If the O's get a big bat in free agency, and a legitimate backup to rest him occasionally at third base, Batista should be a solid contributor all season batting cleanup.

Batista led the Orioles with 31 homers and 87 RBI in 2002, but saw his second half production drop (.217 after All-Star break) under the stress of playing 161 games and lack of other consistent power sources in the lineup. If the O's get a big bat in free agency, and a legitimate backup to rest him occasionally at third base, Batista should be a solid contributor all season batting cleanup. Batista led the Orioles with 31 homers and 87 RBI in 2002, but saw his second half production drop (.217 after All-Star break) under the stress of playing 161 games and lack of other consistent power sources in the lineup. If the O's get a big bat in free agency, and a legitimate backup to rest him occasionally at third base, Batista should be a solid contributor all season batting cleanup.