The New York Mets are still looking to add to their starting rotation. After the signing of Justin Verlander, the final need to complete this pitching staff is a third starter.
According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Mets are one of the teams “showing continued interest” in Kodai Senga, per sources.
Morosi also followed up, saying the Mets “aren’t close to done with rotation upgrades.” Certainly, thrilling to hear that the Mets want to keep their starting pitching a top strength of their baseball team.
The other three teams mentioned by Morosi with interest in Senga were the Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post and MLB Network just highlighted the Mets, Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers as interested teams.
- The Mets are expecting a six-time all-star to join the team on Friday
- The Mets’ young catcher is set to be out for two months
- Mets could get All-Star slugger back vs. Cardinals on Friday
Why Kodai Senga fits with the Mets:
The Mets rumored continued interest in Senga is logical to understand. Currently, with Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker free agents, the Mets need a reinforcement for the middle of their rotation. The Mets have supposedly kept interest in both Bassitt and Walker as well as Jameson Taillon, Andrew Heaney, and Ross Stripling for the third spot in their rotation.
Senga is young and talented, and while there are unknowns, his upside also happens to be significant. He turns 30 in January and has been dominant in the Japan Leagues. Senga is coming off a year in which he posted a 1.89 ERA. Since his career started in 2012, Senga has an ERA of 2.42.
To have a top three to the rotation of now Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Senga would be promising. In this hypothetical, the Mets would have Carlos Carrasco as their fourth starter, with either David Peterson or Tylor Megill as their fifth.
Even with deGrom leaving, if the Mets could come away with Verlander and Senga in the same offseason, it would be quite electrifying.