The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, as you read here in these pages, will pay a whopping 525 million yen (almost $4.5 million) to buy out the second year of the contract of third baseman Tony Batista, ending the Japan career of "Mr. Nonchalant."
I call him that because he is to me one of the most laid-back players I have ever seen. From his unorthodox wide-open batting stance to his scoop-and-lob fielding style, Batista is the ultimate cool, calm and collected infielder.
Eyebrows were raised when it was announced last winter the Hawks were going to sign Batista to a two-year deal worth, with incentives, $15 million, but the Fukuoka club had been sold by Daiei to SoftBank, and it now had the money to spend on a bona-fide major leaguer.