DODGERS NOTEBOOK: DODGERS MAY SEND ISHII OFF TO METS FOR PHILLIPS.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - The Dodgers are believed to be discussing a possible trade that would send left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii to the New York Mets for catcher/first baseman Jason Phillips, a deal that would address what for the Dodgers appears to be a glaring lack of offense behind the plate.

There are conflicting reports as to how close the trade is to being completed. One source close to the Mets said Friday night that Dodgers officials have told Ishii the deal is imminent. But another source with knowledge of the situation denied that.

Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta could not be reached for comment. DePodesta said this week that he wasn't actively pursuing another catcher.

At first glance, Phillips doesn't appear to be a dramatic offensive improvement over either David Ross or Paul Bako, the two catchers expected to split time for the Dodgers this season.

Phillips, 28, batted just .218 for the Mets last season, although that is a higher average than either Bako or Ross. Like Bako and Ross, Phillips is considered a gifted defensive catcher. But the Mets planned to use him primarily at first base this season so Mike Piazza could return to catching full-time.

The Mets are interested in starting pitching after finding out that Steve Trachsel needs back surgery and is likely out for the season.

Ishii is a talented but erratic left-hander known to dominate at times, pitching the Dodgers' only two complete-game shutouts of the 2004 regular season. But he has a tendency to walk too many batters. By trading him and ridding themselves of his complicated contract, the Dodgers also would rid themselves of roughly $5.75 million in salary commitments.

Still, there is a question of whether they can afford to deal Ishii at a time when at least one of their starting pitchers, Brad Penny, is virtually guaranteed to begin the season on the disabled list and another, Odalis Perez, has yet to make his spring-training debut with two weeks left in camp.

If the Dodgers acquire Phillips, it will all but guarantee that Ross will begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas, something that might happen even if the trade doesn't. Ross batted .170 last season, is hitless in 13 Grapefruit League at-bats and has a minor-league option left.

--Perez update: Perez, who hasn't appeared in a game because of biceps tendinitis resulting from overzealous weightlifting, is scheduled to throw live batting practice today. If that goes well, he will make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday.

But that still affords him little time to get ready for Game 2 of the regular season April 6 at San Francisco, when he otherwise would be the logical choice to be slotted between Opening-Day starter Derek Lowe and Game 3 starter Jeff Weaver.

``Odalis is going to be a push,'' pitching coach Jim Colborn said. ``Everything has to go just right. ... I guess I'm trying to get him ready for that second game, but that doesn't look probable right now to me.''

Pitching Tuesday at Florida would give Perez enough time to make three spring appearances, but Colborn said he and manager Jim Tracy might try to squeeze in a fourth one. That probably would require Perez to start the exhibition finale against the Angels on April 3 at Dodger Stadium, leaving him unavailable until at least the fourth game of the season.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

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