Travis Ishikawa expected to replace injured Nori Aoki

Before I left AT&T Park early Wednesday morning, I got a strong hint that the Giants are leaning toward purchasing the contract of first baseman Travis Ishikawa to replace Nori Aoki, who was diagnosed with fractured right leg.

You can read the entire story about Aoki here.

If the Giants follow through and promote Ishikawa, it would make sense on several levels.

He would provide a left-handed bat to replace Aoki’s. Plus, manager Bruce Bochy would have the flexibility to move Brandon Belt to left field while having Ishikawa play first base against right-handed pitchers, while leaving Buster Posey behind the plate for the most part.

Ishikawa is hitting .269 with three homers in 33 games for Triple-A Sacramento.

The 2014 playoff hero was removed from the 40-man roster earlier this season when his rehab from a back injury ended and the big club had no spot for him, but he accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A to stay in the organization rather than become a free agent.

via Giants Splash: Ishikawa expected to replace injured Aoki – SFGate.