Ex-Giant Ishikawa ‘confused’ over fallout with Mariners

Editor's note: The above video is from spring training last year when Travis Ishikawa was with the Giants.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- His fans haven’t been the only ones baffled by the recent minor-league deal Travis Ishikawa signed with the White Sox.

When the deal was announced on Feb. 9, several loyal fans of the former San Francisco Giants’ postseason hero were stunned by the news via social media. Roughly three weeks earlier, Ishikawa -- who hit a walkoff home run in Game 5 of the 2014 National League Championship Series to send the Giants to the World Series -- reached an agreement on a minor-league accord with the Seattle Mariners.

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Having grown up in nearby Federal Way, Wash., Ishikawa was thrilled to potentially play at home this season. But all of a sudden, talks between the Mariners and Ishikawa dissolved and left him in search of a new team. Ultimately, Ishikawa settled on the White Sox, with whom he had familiarity after playing at Triple-A Charlotte in 2013.

“To be honest, I was a little confused, too,” Ishikawa said. “We had agreed. I don’t really know what happened. I think it was mutual. Decided to split ways, it wasn’t going to work out. So they went their way and I went mine.”

As the roster stands now, Ishikawa’s chances of making the White Sox’ Opening Day roster are tricky because the team already employs two first baseman. But rejoining the White Sox, seeing familiar faces from 2013, knowing how the organization operates, makes this a comfortable landing spot.

It’s also not the first time Ishikawa has been in this position.