Rookie ace gives Mets a blueprint for how to spend their billionaire owner's cash

In rookie Kodai Senga, the $445M New York Mets have a certified ace who they didn't have to break the bank to acquire.

The Amazins entered the 2023 season with World Series aspirations following a flurry of offseason acquisitions. Steve Cohen, MLB's richest owner, put his multi-billion dollar net worth to use, distributing record-breaking contracts to top free agents.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander signed a two-year, $86.66M deal, tying teammate Max Scherzer — whom the Mets acquired the offseason prior — for the highest average annual value at $43.33M. Star closer Edwin Diaz and center fielder Brandon Nimmo were additionally brought back on deals worth $102M and $162M, respectively.

Overlooked amid the big-name arrivals was the addition of Senga, a Japanese pitcher New York expected to fill in at No. 3 in the rotation. The Mets gave the unproven rookie a five-year, $75M contract, placing him among other mid-tier free-agent pitchers and below the AAV that departing Mets Taijuan Walker ($18M) and Chris Bassitt ($21M) made.

The 2023 Mets hardly lived up to the monumental expectations, as the club stood at 48-54 and seven games out from the playoffs on July 27. With the trade deadline fast approaching, New York waved the white flag, dealing starters for prospects.

Co-aces Scherzer and Verlander were two of the main culprits behind the Mets' struggles, with the former boasting a 4.01 ERA and the latter taking several months to return to true form following a teres major muscle strain. Both were dealt at the trade deadline, with Scherzer going to the Texas Rangers and Verlander heading back to the Houston Astros.

With a gaping hole at the top of the rotation, New York turned to Senga, who has solidified himself as the team's ace. In 28 games started for the Mets, the 30-year-old owns a 2.96 ERA (fourth best in MLB), 10.8 K/9 (fifth in MLB) and 6.9 H/9 (fifth in MLB). The "ghost fork" — his signature pitch — remains one of the most unhittable in baseball with a 59.7% whiff rate.