Dodgers, Ishii Still Oceans Apart in Talks

The Dodgers and pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii are so far apart in negotiations on a three-year contract that the Japanese left-hander’s agent fears Ishii may not play in Los Angeles this season.

“It’s to the point where I may need to go back to Ishii and prepare him for the possibility of not [playing for the Dodgers],” said Joe Urbon, Ishii’s representative. “You’re always far apart at the beginning of this process, but when you look at the pitchers Ishii has been compared to, when you consider the Dodgers paid an $11.26-million posting fee [to the Yakult Swallows for Ishii’s negotiating rights], where we are right now is disconcerting.”

The Dodgers’ initial three-year offer last week was believed to be in the $6-million range. Urbon is believed to be seeking a deal more comparable to that of Seattle Mariner outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who last winter signed a three-year, $14-million contract that includes $7 million in incentives. Seattle paid an additional $13.125 million to acquire Suzuki’s rights.

Kim Ng, Dodger assistant general manager, spoke at length to Urbon on Tuesday, and the team made its first counter-offer to Ishii, but that was believed to be less than $7 million for three years, still far below what Urbon is seeking.

“I think Ishii is going to be surprised and offended,” Urbon said. “It’s frustrating, because I don’t think we’re being unreasonable at all.”

Dan Evans, Dodger general manager, would not discuss negotiations in detail, but he remains confident the team will be able to secure Ishii by the Feb. 8 deadline. If the Dodgers don’t sign Ishii, they won’t have to pay the $11.26-million rights fee, and Ishii would return to Japan.

“We have every expectation that we’re going to sign him,” Evans said. “There’s a long way to go. There are no red flags. If there’s a difference in opinion, it’s about what we feel his worth is and what they feel his worth is. The process could take time, but that’s fine.”

Ishii went 12-5 with a 3.40 earned-run average last season in Japan and has a 78-45 career record and 3.38 ERA in nine years. Jim Colborn, Dodger pitching coach, has compared Ishii to a “scaled-down version of Randy Johnson.”

There has been speculation the Dodgers might be factoring the $11.26-million rights fee into the total value of Ishii’s package, speculation Evans declined to comment on. But that fee goes to the Yakult Swallows, not Ishii, and Urbon doesn’t think that should be structured into Ishii’s deal.

“We will have a hard time bridging the gap, but it’s too important to throw up your hands and say, ‘Forget it,’” Urbon said. “We still have 17 days. Let’s see what happens.”

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The Dodgers held exploratory negotiations with the agent for shortstop Pokey Reese on a one-year contract but decided not to make a serious bid for the former Cincinnati Red infielder because they do not want to block the path of promising young shortstop Cesar Izturis, who was acquired this winter from the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Pitcher Andy Ashby, recovering from elbow surgery, is scheduled to begin throwing off the mound on Feb. 1, and ace Kevin Brown, also recovering from elbow surgery, is on course to begin throwing off the mound when spring training starts. ... The Dodgers continue to explore trades for a closer, with Boston’s Ugueth Urbina and Bobby Howry of the Chicago White Sox as primary targets, but they don’t appear close to any deals. ... Among the non-roster invitees to camp this spring are outfielder Mark Whiten, utility players Roberto Kelly and Mike Kinkade and pitchers Dennis Springer and Jesse Orosco.