Ishii Isn’t Troubled by Potential Trade

Kazuhisa Ishii still wore Dodger blue, and a smile, on Saturday. The Dodgers are expected to trade him to the New York Mets any day now, a prospect that does not sadden him.

“If I go to L.A., I’ll bring my shorts and T-shirt,” he said through a translator. “If I’m going to New York, I’ll buy a coat and pants.”

The Dodgers and Mets did not announce the anticipated trade that would send Ishii to New York for catcher Jason Phillips, but there was no evidence the deal would collapse. The Mets scratched Phillips from Saturday’s lineup, and he told New York reporters he was preparing to ship his belongings to California.

Joe Urbon, the agent for Ishii, said Dodger General Manager Paul DePodesta called late Friday night to alert him to the possible trade. Ishii can veto a trade to 10 teams, but Urbon said the Mets are not one of them.

It is uncertain whether the Mets would get cash in the deal. The difference in guaranteed money is $5 million -- Ishii is owed $5.4 million, including a $3.2-million salary this season, and Phillips makes $339,000 -- and the commissioner’s office must approve any trade that includes a cash swap of more than $1 million.

DePodesta said that “more than one” team had offered a catcher in recent days but said, “I don’t have a deal done at this point with anybody.” Asked whether he would have a deal done today, he said, “I don’t know.”

Phillips, 28, fighting for a job as Mike Piazza’s backup in New York, would join Paul Bako in filling the Dodgers’ catching needs until top prospects Dioner Navarro and Russell Martin are major league ready.

“The questions about our catching situation are short-term ones,” DePodesta said. “I don’t think there are going to be a lot of questions about our catching situation, knock on wood, over the next six, seven years.”

The short-term questions were generated by the offensive woes of incumbent David Ross, who turned 28 Saturday amid news of a trade that could cost him a spot in the major leagues. Ross hit .170 last season and is hitless in 15 at-bats this spring.

“I think you’re judged on your career. I don’t think you’re judged on your last at-bat,” Ross said. “But, if it’s what have you done for me lately, I haven’t done much at all.”

Ishii said he wants to start, a job the Dodgers no longer would guarantee.

Manager Jim Tracy twice demoted him to the bullpen last season, and DePodesta agreed this winter to send him to the New York Yankees in a trade that ultimately collapsed. The Mets want him now, to replace injured starter Steve Trachsel.

“Right now, I have the confidence to do the job wherever I go,” Ishii said.

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Eric Gagne said he hopes to make his spring debut Monday, although club officials are noncommittal. Odalis Perez is scheduled to debut Tuesday. The Dodgers believe both pitchers will be ready for opening day.... Brad Penny, expected to start the season on the disabled list, pitched batting practice for the first time this spring. “The fact that he threw to hitters doesn’t mean he’s any closer to being in a game,” pitching coach Jim Colborn said.... The Dodgers lost to St. Louis, 5-2.