Batista, Blue Jays Agree to Three-Year Deal

The Toronto Blue Jays made the first move of baseball’s winter meetings in New Orleans, agreeing to terms with free-agent right-hander Miguel Batista on a $13.1-million, three-year contract Friday.

Batista was 10-9 with a 3.54 earned-run average for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season. He pitched in 36 games, making 29 starts.

Earlier this month, the Diamondbacks did not offer him salary arbitration, with General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. saying the team could not afford the “multiyear contract for significant dollars” that Batista wanted.

The 32-year-old right-hander becomes the No. 2 starter on a team that has finished third in the AL East for six consecutive years behind New York and Boston. The Blue Jays, led by Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay, finished 86-76 last season.

In his seven postseason games, all with the Diamondbacks in 2001-02, Batista is 3-1 with a 3.54 ERA.

Batista will make $3.6 million next season, $4.75 million in 2005 and $4.75 million in 2006.

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The Philadelphia Phillies exercised their 2005 option on Manager Larry Bowa and added team options for 2006 and 2007.

Bowa, the 2001 National League manager of the year, has led the Phillies to a 252-233 record in three seasons, finishing second once and third twice in the National League East.

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Conflicting accounts were given at a hearing in Boston about a fight involving two New York Yankees and a groundskeeper at Fenway Park during the Yankees’ 4-3 victory in Game 3 of the AL championship series Oct. 11.

Another hearing was scheduled for Wednesday to decide whether charges will be filed.

Reliever Jeff Nelson testified that Paul Williams provoked the fight in which Nelson and right fielder Karim Garcia were involved. Nelson said Williams bumped him and spit in his face after Nelson asked him to stop cheering for the Red Sox in the bullpen. Garcia waived his right to appear. Williams, a part-time groundskeeper, said it was he who was assaulted.