DODGERS UPDATE: ISHII IN TOWN; DEAL MORE LIKELY.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The Dodgers and Japanese lefty Kazuhisa Ishii are no longer so far apart all of a sudden - in more ways than one.

Ishii and his agent, Joe Urbon, spontaneously flew to Los Angeles in an apparent attempt to bridge the large gap in negotiations.

The Dodgers believe such a move means a deal is probable before Friday's 9 p.m. deadline, though the sides remained far apart late into the night.

That was only one of two surprises for the Dodgers during the day. Shortly after Urbon alerted the Dodgers of his plans, the Angels signed closer Troy Percival to a two-year, $16 million contract extension. Percival was the Dodgers' top target for closer.

However, sources said Percival's extension includes only a partial no- trade clause, and the Dodgers are not on the block list. Therefore, the Dodgers still plan to pursue a trade for Percival, sources said, and he might be even more attractive because he's under contract through 2004.

But before the Dodgers trade for a closer, they want to sign Ishii. The Dodgers' latest offer was three years for slightly more than $8 million; Urbon was seeking a three-year, $13 million deal, sources said.

Urbon met with Ishii at an undisclosed location in Los Angeles. One of the topics to be discussed was whether Ishii would take less guaranteed money from L.A. than he could get from the Yakult Swallows.

Urbon planned to talk with Dodgers assistant general manager Kim Ng.

``I'm encouraged that (Ishii) is here, but in no way did the Dodgers bring him out here,'' Evans said. ``He came here on his own.''

That Ishii is in Los Angeles means an enormous hurdle was cleared. Rather than fly him in for a physical after reaching an agreement, Ishii would be ready if a deal is reached.

Also, the Dodgers claimed right-hander Craig House, 24, off waivers from the Mets and added him to their 40-man roster.