"Miguel Batista will turn 41 next month, one day before pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Port St. Lucie for spring training.

And the right-hander will be there with the Mets, who signed him to a minor league deal yesterday after he finished the 2011 season with them.

Batista split last season between the Cardinals and the Mets, going 5-2 with a 3.60 ERA in 35 games — including five starts.

After being released by the eventual World Series-champion Cardinals in June, the Mets picked him up on July 5 and brought him back to the majors Aug. 26."