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.
Kodai Senga's rookie year numbers with one start left in his season:
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) September 21, 2023
28 GS
161.1 IP
2.96 ERA (4th in MLB)
1.22 WHIP
194 K
10.8 K/9 (5th in MLB)
6.9 H/9 (5th in MLB)
59.7% whiff on the ghost fork
His final act of 2023 comes on Wednesday against the… pic.twitter.com/7ZaSHEoMMH
With the Mets far out of playoff contention as the regular season winds down, the 2023 season should be looked at as a lesson instead of a step in the right direction.
Cohen and general manager Billy Eppler affirmed that New York won't frivolously spend again, instead fielding a competitive team made up of mid-tier free agents and young prospects. The recent hiring of David Stearns — the franchise's first president of baseball operations — should help. He routinely acquired great players relatively cheaply while serving as Milwaukee Brewers GM.
The Mets are no longer the big-spenders of the MLB, and Senga's dominant rookie season proves they'll be just fine not breaking the bank on star players.
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