Ishii Interests Dodgers, Angels

The Dodgers and Angels are among several teams believed to be interested in bidding for Japanese pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii, who became available to major league clubs this week.

Ishii, a 10-year veteran of the Yakult Swallows, is considered one of the top starting pitchers in Japanese baseball. The left-hander went 12-6 with a 3.49 earned-run average in 175 innings last season, ranking second in the Central League in strikeouts (173) and walks (82). In his only start in Japan’s championship series, he pitched eight shutout innings, giving up one hit and striking out 12.

The Swallows accommodated his desire to pursue a major league career by posting him with the commissioner’s office, a protocol that requires interested clubs to place a sealed bid for negotiating rights to Ishii. Bids are due Monday, and the Swallows have four days to accept or reject the highest bid. If the Swallows accept, they keep the bid money, and the winning team then must negotiate a contract with Ishii.

The Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Indians are among the teams also believed to be interested in Ishii.

“He’d like to be on the West Coast,” said Ishii’s agent, Joe Urbon. Ishii’s wife, Ayako Kisa, a news anchor for Japan’s Fuji TV, formerly lived in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers could use Ishii to bolster a rotation that now depends on Kevin Brown and Andy Ashby returning from injury and Eric Gagne maturing beyond prospect status. If the Angels sign Ishii, they could consider trading Scott Schoeneweis--at 28, the same age as Ishii--for another hitter rather than signing one in free agency.

Dodger General Manager Dan Evans did not return a call Thursday. Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman declined to discuss whether the Angels would bid but confirmed the team had scouted Ishii in Japan. Stoneman also said that, before the Angels released him last month, pitcher Shigetoshi Hasegawa had encouraged the club to pursue Ishii.

The Mariners paid $13 million last year for negotiating rights to outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, the American League most valuable player last season. The rights to Ishii are expected to command perhaps half that amount.