The Mets recently sat down with free agent starter Kodai Senga in New York, reports Will Sammon of the Athletic. Andy Martino of SNY first reported earlier this week that New York and Senga’s camp would sit down.
Senga, 30 in January, recently wrapped up his 11th season in Nippon Professional Baseball. He had a 2.59 ERA in over 1000 career innings at Japan’s highest level. Senga’s coming off a particularly excellent platform campaign, working to a 1.94 ERA through 144 frames with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. He punched out an above-average 27.5% of batters faced against a manageable 8.6% walk rate.
Evaluators have raised some concerns about Senga’s command and breaking ball, but his combination of an upper-90s fastball and a split-finger offering have drawn plenty of praise. Between his excellent NPB performance and quality raw stuff, he figures to be of interest to virtually every team with a rotation need. The right-hander has already found a wide array of interest as he tests the market in preparation for his jump to Major League Baseball. The Mets join the Giants, Red Sox, Rangers, Cubs, Blue Jays, Mariners and Padres as teams known to be involved in his market to some extent.
The Mets figure to cast a wide net in their search for return help, as the starting staff is facing a high degree of possible turnover. Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker and swingman Trevor Williams all hit the open market — deGrom and Bassitt after declining qualifying offers. Max Scherzer and Carlos Carrasco are presently the only locks for the season-opening rotation, with David Peterson, Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi and José Butto among the depth options who could get a look. New York is sure to retain or add at least two starters (and quite likely three) from outside the organization over the coming months, and they’ve also been tied to former Dodger southpaw Andrew Heaney.
Senga, it bears remembering, is a true free agent after reaching nine years of service time in Japan. Unlike with players made available a year or more early via the posting system, signing Senga will not require an MLB team to provide any kind of financial compensation to the Hawks.
Grilled cheese and tomato soup is such an underrated lunch
The cheese is fattening and the tomato has acid.
I would take Tyler Anderson over Senga but Senga over Heaney.
Tyler already sign with the Angels.
Understood, but I am explaining where I would rank or slot him
But tomatoes are great for their lycopene, which is important to men’s health.
Obviously, Aaron Boone can skip that part.
Put your tomatoes, sliced thick and slightly chilled, into the grilled cheese sandwich just prior to serving. Also, go with a less acidic cheese, but one that’s a little sharper, the better to contrast with the tomatoes.
A friend uses multigrain bread in her grilled cheeses. There’s just no excuse for this nonsense.
Hi, Yankee Clipper.
Aaron Boone and antioxidants, something I am missing?
Oh, it’s the Lycopene which is beneficial for {men’s health}. Since Boone has no balls and makes excuses for losing, like, “the roof was open”……
Very tasty, not to mention a nice dill pickle on the side
I’m a big pickle guy. Put that fat pickle all in my mouth
Not that anything’s wrong with that
But the type of cheese is important. I like a medium cheddar combined with brie to smooth it out.
i prefer adding chez-it’s to my gc and tomato soup.
Does it really have that apostrophe?
don’t think so that was siri adding that
I think hamburgers and cheeseburgers work well with fries.
Just keep lettuce the he!! away from my cheeseburger.
What are we, barbarians??
I concur
I hope Bloom is saving his McDonald’s BOGO coupon for his turn to have lunch with Senga.
Gonna be interesting to see what kind of contract he gets considering how many contenders are meeting with him
I would think somewhere in the 4/60 or even 5/75 range given the amount of competing clubs involved here. It’s a risky decision but could potentially be a great pickup for some team.
But when Roki Sasaki is available, I would take out my checkbook!
As a met fan, this is the signing I’d really like to see happen
Good replacement for Walker.
I’m an Angels fan, felt bad for Eppler for how his hands were tied with Arte in Anaheim. Seeing how he has transformed the Mets system in one year, I am happy for him. Signing Ohtani when rumors suggested he would sign with Seattle cause of Dipoto. Then also extending Trout to a 12 year deal. I am happy for Eppler out in NY having Cohen give Eppler his full support. This is fun to watch Eppler.
Is this Billy Epplers burn account? Ha
Nah, probably Billy Eppler’s mom or boyfriend
Just a proud supporter of a former Angel employee.
Ah, the Eppler burner account.
“Transformed”? He couldn’t even win the division with a $290m payroll and a superb affordable roster already on hand. He bungled the deadline. He bungled in getting Scherzer. He loaded up the Mets to be even older and even worse in 2023 and 2024 short of $330m+ payrolls. He bungled bringing up Baty, Vientos, and Alvarez, making desperation moves with all three after waiting and waiting for the Resurrection of Ruf. All three looked lost and overmatched when suddenly brought to the majors even though the first two play 3B and even though Escobar at 3B was abysmal through Sept 1, with a .648 OPS and bad defense. He dealt away a half dozen useful or interesting players for chaff at the deadline. JD Davis was dealt away and immediately rediscovered his stroke, hitting a career high OPS+ of 140. That was… smart?
Eppler’s what, secretly a genius?
Eppler is the only GM ever trolled by the team he was fired from. Fired, And they still trolled him in the draft.
Not an Eppler fan, but did he also run over your puppy?
@MannyBeingMVP Ah, the puppy comment. The last resort of those with nothing factual to offer.
He is in truth in the process of running over my favorite team, while lacking the gravitas to stand up to the worst of Cohen’s impulses. It’s gruesome to watch.
Billy “we couldn’t get anyone else” Eppler. After he’s fired, or sidelined by a competent PBOPs I hope he ends up GM’ing your favorite team—it’s the worst curse I can bestow, compadre.
There’s also quite a bit walking out the door as well. They’d wind up adding, but it wouldn’t be by much.
First, I rate Epplier poorly, just not as extreme as you.
Eppler has taken two straight jobs with owners who meddle in personnel decisions more than the typical owner, which is already a lot.
This tells me more that for Eppler it is about the paycheck than it tells me that he sucks. He is willing to be the yes man. Would he be good if he had more control, we just don’t know.
I dedicate this next song to Jack Strawb typing this rant on his iPhone in his underwear. He’s only a Met fan because he hates the Yankees. Yet he thinks he knows more about running a team than a actual GM. Yet his phone never rings.No one calls to solicit his advice. Linda Rondstat’s “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” take it away Linda!!! On the Shadow Steven’s Show.
@Winslow Leach Take it down a notch, crapsack.
Two vitriols don’t make a vitamin.
You’re right, he didn’t win the division this year. But, can we blame him entirely when the Mets were in first place of the division for most of the year? I personally don’t think so. He brought in Scherzer when rumors were going around Mike Trout himself was recruiting Scherzer (as an Angels fan, that free agency loss still hurts me along with Gerrit Cole). However, 2016 was the last time the Mets made the playoffs. Their last winning record was in 2019 going 86-76 and still missed the playoffs. The Mets won over 100 games (101 to be exact) this year. The Mets haven’t had at least 100 wins since 1988. Were the players older he signed? Yes. But, with the players in free agency that were still available he made moves. I believe the Mets alone paid over a billion dollars to three players on one day (Canhe, Marte, and another player). They might be older, but they still kicked ass throughout the season and unfortunately they lost the first round of the playoffs this year. Resigned Edwin Diaz already to fortify their closer position. And again, Cohen is giving Eppler full control of baseball operations in the organization.
I get a little sick of the whole “they didn’t win the division” nonsense, acting like they finished 10 GB. They both won 101 games, and lost out on a new BS tiebreaker rule 10-9. Basically, both teams tied, and we were robbed of a tiebreaker game. Also, they won 101 with degrom missing 2/3 of the season and scherzer missing just under 1/3 of the season. I’m not an Eppler guy either but can we stop acting like last season was a failure or underachievement by any stretch?
@Ma4170
I only say they didn’t win is because they lost the regular season series to the Braves which is why they lost the division. The whole season in my eyes is a success because they were the “LOLMets” for many years in many peoples eyes. This year they were transformed in one off season to be a juggernaut with the now former WS champs in their division. Why I give credit to Eppler.
Or can we just say the Braves were the better team? What the Mets did last year was not a repeat of 2007. The Braves caught the Mets by playing .700+ baseball from July onward and beating up on DeGrom and Scherzer in the final series. It also didn’t help that Marte got injured at the beginning of September which was a big blow to the offense.
Since none of us here knows what went on behind the scenes, putting JD Davis solely on Eppler discounts Showalter’s input on some of the trade deadline moves. You think Eppler alone decided to get rid of Miguel Castro who played for Buck in Baltimore?
as a cards fan i don’t think mets losing the division is a knock on them, yes they lead most of the year but they were playing like .600 ball after the as break and won 101 games. it’s just bad luck that alt went on a tear in the second half so let’s give atl some credit, it’s not like they were given the division.
Agree w all these comments, Atlanta just played unbelievably and took it on the new tiebreaker. Would they have won a one game playoff game? Who knows… but I consider the season a huge success… a 24 game turnaround where arguably your two best players missed 30 starts between them. I think regardless of the moves they make though that it will be hard to match that win total.
Finally the Mets going after a Japanese pitcher, I’d say sign him (Senga) and Rodon. Than sign Xander Bo. to play 2b he’ll be cheaper than Turner and Correa, than sign Conforto for RF, Marte in CF and McNeil in LF, Baty at 3b with Alvarez catching
Lol wow…that’s quite a wishlist.
In all seriousness, I don’t see the need for the Mets to sign an IF. McNeil and Lindor have it covered.
I like this, would be nice.
that’s still a pretty expensive wish list, i get cohen has money but it’s not infinite i also get the met brand brings in a lot of revenue but can it sustain a payroll of 350+ without cohen putting more of his money in as well.
@jvent The Mets are going to need at least one more pitcher after Senga and Rodon. They rate to get only about half a season’s starts from guys currently on the roster, and most of those starts project to be of the below average variety.
I stop at the “O” as well. That “e” always throws me off in his last name. MLB should force him to spell it differently….for my convenience.
I actually like this thinking… scherzer rodon Senga Carrasco Peterson megill Hernández to cover 5 spots, with the hope one of Hamel Vasil Butto accelerate development and could fill in later in the year. Bogaerts to 2b w McNeil covering OF and spot starts at 2b. Could have a worse offseason, that’s for sure. And if you’re letting degrom and Bassitt walk, it’s not that much of a financial hit. Prob about 70m between the three you mention. Re-signing degrom and Bassitt would be about 65.
This gentleman is going to get a very robust contract from one of the 20 teams in on him
Earlier this week I was having a meeting with a client at the Omni in San Diego and on the jumbotron in Petco was a photo of Senga in a #41`Padres uniform. I assumed that they were showing him the park that day.
Now I know that the Padres were not the only team already meeting with him.
Now that’s what I call inside information…thnx for sharing, that’s cool.
Can’t wear #41 if he signs with the Mets.
Whomever signs this guy is getting a pitcher who historically keeps the ball in the ballpark. I haven’t seen his ground ball rates swinging strike rates or other peripherals, but if he can keep the ball in the ballpark, he can pitch for my team.
If he does give up a home run ball in his home park, the fans can throw it back and the stadium can play “Return to Senga” by Elvis.
I thought he was saying “Return Lucinda”
Now it makes sense. That Elvis. Always was ahead of his time….
Sure was. Although I still can’t make sense of that Cold War ballad: “Fool’s Russians.”
Not sure Senga has the command to stick in the rotation based on what I’ve read, but at worst he’d be a great power arm out of the pen.
This is such a common misconception. From the reports that I’ve listened to he’s been cited as a best fit in MLB for a long relief pitcher.
I think many people thinking they’re getting a Tanaka comp are going to end up with something much less desirable, if those reports are true. I believe the most current one I hear was through Jomboy media, Farm….something.
Good to see the Mets in disarray. The Mets fans have been accusing the Yankees for years for buying a pennant and now they expect to see their team do exactly that.
Yankees reek of disarray. You’re in a worse place with current contracts that promise a bad decade if you pull off Judge.
@Oldman58 Mets fan here. The disarray was, of course, predictable, and as we learned in season 1 of the new regime, Cohen IS the Wilpons, only with more money.
I don’t want to see the Mets buy a pennant, particularly not by going about it this badly.
Jaysus, it hardly took a wizard to see the results of 2022 in following seasons. Don’t these guys even have a whiteboard??
JackStrawb;
I love your insights.
I like Mr. Cohen. But he’s learning what every new owner with lots of money to spend learned in their first few years……that money alone doesn’t work.
He’s vocalized his plan as spending for the ML club until he can get the farm system humming. Sounds good, but time will tell.
I am wondering about all the Mets that played out their options this year. Is it that they want to hit the jackpot like Lindor and Schurzer did, or did they want to get away from the situation? We should find out by early February.
As for Mr. Eppler – he worked for George, which seems to qualify him for this position.
Mets fan here as well. I’m not as bullish on Cohen as you are. I’m not ignoring that he’s hands on, but as Samuel pointed out, he’s been very open about spending to be competitive until they can get their minor league pipeline and analytics in place. He’s also actually a fan and wants the franchise to win.
My take on the spending so far is that because of the past disarray under the Wilson’s, the big contracts are to reestablish the club as a destination. Think the Mike Piazza signing in 1998 which made him the richest player in baseball. The Lindor and Scherzer contracts dare an attempt to recreate that environment. I have no doubt that that factored into the Marte and Escobar signings and will reap benefits this year as well for some free agents.
While we can agree Eppler didn’t do enough during the trade deadline, we go into this season with Alvarez, Batty, and Vientos still on the team. Now we get to see what they bring to the table. Prior years, most if not all of them would be gone already.
“Andy Martino of SNY first reported earlier this week that New York and Senga’s camp would sit down.”
The guy came all the way from Japan. The least they could do was let him sit down.
Steve: “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Kodai.”
Senga agent: “Sure. Where are all the chairs?”
Steve: “I think better on my feet. I highly recommend the porterhouse and standing.”
Peter Lugers waiter: “Ahem… he made us remove all seating even in the office. Medium, sir?”
That hat bend is epic
Mets will go all out to sign Senga, he gives them a great #2 in his prime. Japanese players don’t always take the most money, they go where they feel comfortable. There will be other teams on west coast that will take a shot at him.