4:22pm: SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo tweets that Ishikawa’s deal comes with a $900K base salary in the Majors — the same figure he’d received on the Mariners deal that ultimately fell apart.
3:54pm: The White Sox and first baseman Travis Ishikawa have agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training, MLB.com’s Scott Merkin tweets. Ishikawa had previously agreed to a minor league deal with the Mariners earlier this offseason, but that deal fell through last month. This will mark Ishikawa’s second stint with the Sox, as he signed there in July 2013 and finished out that season with Chicago’s Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte.
The 32-year-old Ishikawa, a Jim McDowell client, split the 2015 campaign between the Pirates and Giants, batting a combined .206/.306/.302 in 72 Major League plate appearances and a combined .267/.337/.420 in the minors with the two organizations. Though he hasn’t occupied a semi-regular role since his 2009 season with the Giants, Ishikawa has averaged 112 big league plate appearances per year across the past six seasons, and he’s a career .255/.321/.391 hitter in the Majors.
The White Sox don’t appear, on the surface, to have much in the way of at-bats for another first baseman, though Ishikawa does have a bit of corner outfield experience. He’ll serve as a depth option for the Sox, who have Jose Abreu and Adam LaRoche penciled in as their primary first base and DH options, with right-handed sluggers Mike Olt and Jerry Sands serving as potential corner/DH alternatives on the 40-man roster.
Really? Now this? Williams, and Hahn should be fired!!!!
Signing a potential #3 starter for next to nothing then adding a depth piece for MLB min!
What a bunch of fools!
The outrage expressed by some over signing players to Minor League deals is a constant source of amusement.
It ceased being amusing years ago. Now it’s just old and tired.
That guy is just a troll. He comments on anything that the Browns do in the football article, no matter what it is, calling for someone to be fired.
You also said this about the Mariners
Cespedes, Ishikawa. Cespedes, Ishikawa? Ishikawa!
Next, we’ll hear he was the first choice all along, and will be the perfect platoon mate for RF.
“A bit of corner outfield experience.”
While true, I’ll admit I laughed.
If standing in left or right field looking lost and bewildered constitutes “corner outfield experience”, then yes, Ishikawa has corner outfield experience. He has barely played there, and the few times I saw him in the OF last year with the Pirates suggested to me that while he is willing to give the effort defensively, he has no instincts whatsoever out there.
Latos and/or Ishikawa insurance in the event that Danks/Laroche move on? Maybe as part of a salary swap with LA?
The Latos deal stands on its own because it was a bargain. But to an optimist, this deal might hint at another domino falling.
Unless Laroche gets hurt or is released/traded, Ishikawa has no business being the Sox’s DH. No matter how bad Laroche is.
….with right-handed sluggers Mike Olt and Jerry Sands serving as potential corner/DH alternatives on the 40-man roster. Loose use of the word “slugger” here… wow.