3:50pm: Ishikawa has elected free agency, reports MLBTR’s Zach Links (on Twitter).
10:38am: First baseman Travis Ishikawa has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis by the Pirates, reports MLB Daily Dish’s Chris Cotillo (Twitter link). Because Ishikawa has been previously outrighted, he has the option of rejecting the assignment in favor of free agency, which he is likely to do.
Ishikawa, 30, hit .206/.263/.382 with a homer, a triple and a double in 38 plate appearances for the Bucs this season. He was initially part of a platoon with lefty masher Gaby Sanchez until the Pirates, in search of an upgrade, swung a deal for Ike Davis (Pittsburgh sent Zack Thornton and a PTBNL to the Mets).
Ishikawa is a lifetime .257/.321/.397 hitter, and his splits are indicative that he is best suited to be part of a first-base platoon (as he was in Pittsburgh). Both Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating feel that Ishikawa’s glove at first base is above average — an attribute that he and agent Jim McDowell can use as a selling point should he ultimately elect to become a free agent.
He’ll be on a major league team by the end of the season. I think he’s a better player than he is categorized as
I disagree. He’s a poor man’s version of pre-2013 James Loney. He will really only be useful as a Doug Mientkiewiczesque defensive replacement or for double switches in the NL.
He’s talented enough, but he only plays first base. Unless he is good enough to start, most teams are not going to keep a guy who only plays first on the bench. And he doesn’t hit for enough power to be just about any team’s 1B or DH. I agree that he will appear in the majors by the end of the season, but as usual it will be in a bit role.
He would fit in well with the Mets. They need someone to fill the hole of Ike Davis, a left-handed bat off the bench that can only play one position, making him borderline useless.
“lefty masher” Gaby Sanchez………if only.
Career .299/.397/.499 versus lefties, yeah I think that qualifies.
He’s better off finding another team. The Pirates have enough 1B options at AAA with Lambo, McGuiness, and Hague.