The Pirates have claimed Travis Ishikawa from the Giants, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes tweets. The Bucs, in announcing the move, say that they will make a corresponding move to add Ishikawa to their 25-man roster once he joins the team.
The Giants designated Ishikawa for assignment on Friday. They initially acquired him in April 2014, signing him to a minor league deal after he briefly played for the Pirates in a separate stint. The Bucs designated him for assignment last season when they acquired Ike Davis, a fellow lefty first baseman.
This time around, it’s tough to guess what Ishikawa’s role with the Bucs might be, since they already have lefty hitters at first base and right field (Pedro Alvarez and Gregory Polanco, respectively) and a good everyday player in left (Starling Marte, although Marte left Sunday’s game with an apparent injury). It’s possible Ishikawa could simply provide the Bucs with a lefty pinch-hitting option, however.
After his heroics in the postseason last year, the 31-year-old Ishikawa has spent most of 2015 with Triple-A Sacramento, where he’s batted .271/.342/.421. He collected six plate appearances with the Giants this season.
Pirates may not be done. Starling Marte just got hurt and if he goes on the DL, I bet they trade for Delmon Young
Hart can’t play the outfield. S-Rod can but they need to use him as a defensive replacement at 1B for Pedro. Ishikawa frees up S-Rod to take ABs away from Polanco/play some RF.
I wonder if this might be the end of Corey Hart. It makes more sense to carry Lombardozzi as the last bench player for his position flexibility. Assuming Ishikawa takes Gorkys roster spot
Mostly a depth move. The pirates have no first basemen in their system only people converted to first the past year or two.
Good fielding first basemen. Not great at the plate but not a total embarrassment.
Don’t know if it signals and end to Hart in the burgh.. but regardless Hart’s contract is only through this year, if anything probably just cut. Shame cause he was actually starting to do a little something at the plate before going on the DL
But it does suggest other moves are in the making. With Travis on the 25 man Sean isn’t AS essential to have at first and could be playing either another position or traded. (or one of the other many infielders in the system)
Local radio talking heads were saying that it might be a signal that Polanco was going to be sent down to AAA. But now everyhting hinges on Marte’s health.