1B Travis Ishikawa and the White Sox agreed Tuesday on a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.In January, Ishikawa reportedly secured a minor league deal with the Mariners, but it never materialized.Last season with the Pirates, Ishikawa played in 44 games and batted .206 with one home run and eight RBIs.

Ishikawa (back) was activated off the disabled list Monday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Ishikawa has been sidelined since late August with the back injury, but he will finally return Monday. However, it's unlikely he'll see playing time on a consistent basis, with Pedro Alvarez, Mike Morse and Sean Rodriguez also available at first base.

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Travis Ishikawa was activated from the disabled list Monday after recovering from a back injury, according to MLB.com.

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Travis Ishikawa was activated from the disabled list Monday after recovering from a back injury, according to MLB.com. With the team's depth at first base, Ishikawa is expected to assume a bench role with the Pirates. He has a .203 batting average and one home run in 59 at-bats this season.

Ishikawa (back) is expected to rejoin the Pirates on Monday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

Ishikawa will provide the Pirates with depth at first base and the corner outfield spots, but isn't expected to see consistent playing time as the team heads down the final stretch.

Ishikawa (back) was able to run on the field Friday, Tom Singer of MLB.com reports.

Ishikawa was placed on the disabled list Aug. 23 with a lower back strain with an initial timetable targeting a return not long after the minimum 15 days. The 31-year-old appears to be progressing as expected, but could have a tough time finding at-bats once healthy.

Ishikawa was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a lower-back strain, Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area reports.

It's questionable that Ishikawa's injury is serious enough to require a DL stint, but the Pirates were facing a roster crunch with Jordy Mercer ready to return. Ishikawa should be back with the Pirates at some point in September, but he'll have a tough time finding at-bats on a loaded roster that now has several key players back healthy.

Ishikawa went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a homer and four RBI in Kansas City on Monday.

He played first base with Pedro Alvarez serving as the team's DH. Pittsburgh needs to find a spot for him in Tuesday's lineup, but with lefty Jason Vargas pitching there's no guarantee Ishikawa will get the nod.

Ishikawa is out of the lineup Saturday against the Cardinals.

Starling Marte's return to left field Saturday will knock Ishikawa from the starting lineup. If Marte stays healthy, it's unclear how consistent of a role Ishikawa will have with the Pirates, although he does have the ability to play first base as well.

Ishikawa will make his first start Friday for Pittsburgh in 2015, hitting seventh against the Cardinals.

With Starling Marte still unable to go, he'll get the nod in PNC Park's spacious left field. Ishikawa scored a game-winning run Wednesday and and his pinch-double was one of only three extra-base hits Thursday. He's 1-for-2 versus starter Lance Lynn and will get his first chance at multiple at-bats since Pittsburgh claimed him a week ago.

Ishikawa struck out in his season debut for Pittsburgh as a pinch hitter on Monday.

He's expected to continue pinch-hitting while serving as an occasional first baseman or outfielder. He also serves as an insurance policy in the event Starling Marte heads to the disabled list. Most likely, his time with Pittsburgh will be measured in weeks as he's not expected to play a big role on the Bucs.

Ishikawa was claimed off waivers by the Pirates on Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Ishikawa was designated for assignment Friday, but he'll find a new home with the organization he played 15 games for in 2014. He'll serve as a backup first baseman and reserve outfielder in Pittsburgh, occupying a role similar to that of Corey Hart (shoulder) prior to landing on the DL. A corresponding move is expected to be announced following Sunday's game.

Ishikawa was designated for assignment Friday.

Ishikawa logged just five at-bats during a nine-day stint in the majors, and it's evident the Giants would be better served by carrying another outfielder. Accordingly, OF Ryan Lollis has been recalled to replace Ishikawa, who is unlikely to find a significant big-league role while Brandon Belt is healthy.

Ishikawa was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.

With Nori Aoki (leg) hitting the DL on Wednesday, Ishikawa will return from Sacramento to take his spot on the roster. Aoki figures to miss significant time with a fractured fibula, so Ishikawa may have a chance to stick around for a while at the big league level.

Ishikawa cleared waivers Sunday and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Sacramento, Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area reports.

Last year's NLCS hero hasn't appeared in the majors this season after spending most of the first two months of the season on the DL with a back injury. Upon his activation last week, Ishikawa was promptly outrighted off the 40-man roster, and will now stick around in an organizational depth role. He'll likely earn a call-up in the event Brandon Belt suffers an injury.

Ishikawa (back) was reinstated from the 15-day DL Monday and immediately designated for assignment.

Ishikawa was a big part of last season's World Series run, but will fall victim to a crowded roster at the Major League level, as his position is currently occupied by a healthy Brandon Belt. The 31-year-old now has a decision to make, as he can either accept his designation to Triple-A, or test the free agent waters hoping to land with a team in search of an extra left-handed bat off the bench.

Ishikawa (back) has suffered a setback and is not expected to play any time soon, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Ishikawa had been scheduled to embark upon a rehab assignment for Triple-A Sacramento, but the Giants will hit the pause button on this plan, instead electing to keep him with the team for treatment. He's already eligible to return from the disabled list, but considering the lack of a concrete timetable, he may be out of action for quite a while longer. Ishikawa would have represented one of the final 25-man roster spots anyway, so is unlikely to hold much fantasy value down the stretch, even when healthy.

Ishikawa (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, CSN Bay Area reports.

Ishikawa is eligible to come off of the disabled list Sunday, and the club will likely give him a game or two of work in the minors before activating him. When Ishikawa returns, he will serve as the primary backup at both first base and left field.

Ishikawa (back) was placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

An MRI earlier in the week revealed no serious damage to Ishikawa's back, but the injury will delay him long enough to where a DL stint will be necessary. Ishikawa did not enjoy much success this spring, going just 9-for-47 (.191 average) with two extra-base hits (one homer), but he will return to a bench role once healthy, perhaps replacing Justin Maxwell or Brett Jackson on the active roster.

Ishikawa (back) looks poised to start the season on the DL, the San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman reports.

He will stay in Arizona to get minor-league at-bats, therefore allowing the Giants to back-date a DL stint. This would allow Matt Duffy to break camp with the team in a bench role until Ishikawa is healthy enough to rejoin the team.

Ishikawa (back) had an MRI that revealed no serious damage resulting from Sunday's injury and will return to action Thursday, Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Ishikawa left Sunday's game with a back injury, but it turned out to be a minor ailment. Assuming he doesn't suffer a setback Thursday, he should be on the Opening Day roster.