The Mets are close to acquiring left-hander Kaz Ishii from the Dodgers in exchange for catcher Jason Phillips, Sporting News' Ken Rosenthal has learned.
The Mets had been looking for a starting pitcher after losing right-hander Steve Trachsel to back surgery, and the Dodgers have been looking to upgrade their catching from David Ross and Paul Bako, both career backups.
Ishii has spent the spring battling for the No. 5 spot in Los Angeles' starting rotation and will now likely battle for the Mets' No. 5 spot behind Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano.
Ishii started last season in the starting rotation before manager Jim Tracy demoted him to the bullpen in August because of control problems. Ishii was the only pitcher in the majors to walk more than 100 batters in both 2002 and 2003, and he was on target to do it again last season before his demotion.
"This year, I'm focusing on not worrying about walks so much," Ishii said recently. "Not thinking about it helps me focus on what I'm doing now."
Phillips has been especially hot this spring for the Mets, going 11-for-20 (.550) with nine RBIs through Thursday.
The Mets had been looking for a starting pitcher after losing right-hander Steve Trachsel to back surgery, and the Dodgers have been looking to upgrade their catching from David Ross and Paul Bako, both career backups.
Ishii has spent the spring battling for the No. 5 spot in Los Angeles' starting rotation and will now likely battle for the Mets' No. 5 spot behind Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano.
Ishii started last season in the starting rotation before manager Jim Tracy demoted him to the bullpen in August because of control problems. Ishii was the only pitcher in the majors to walk more than 100 batters in both 2002 and 2003, and he was on target to do it again last season before his demotion.
"This year, I'm focusing on not worrying about walks so much," Ishii said recently. "Not thinking about it helps me focus on what I'm doing now."
Phillips has been especially hot this spring for the Mets, going 11-for-20 (.550) with nine RBIs through Thursday.
Comment