Three potential trade destinations for Kodai Senga

The 2025 season was a tale of two halves for New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga.

Senga looked like an All-Star and a Cy Young candidate through June 12. He had posted a 1.47 ERA and a 1.113 WHIP over his 73.2 innings, striking out 70 batters with 31 walks. Senga appeared to have recaptured his form from 2023, emerging as the front-of-the-rotation starter the Mets needed.

Everything changed after Senga returned from a strained right hamstring suffered in his outing on June 12. He posted a 5.90 ERA and a 1.689 WHIP over 39.2 innings, striking out 39 batters with 24 walks. Senga allowed an uncharacteristic eight home runs in that span as he battled his mechanics, ultimately being sent to Triple-A to finish the season.

Senga is a significant question mark as the Mets look to revamp their rotation. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that Senga is "extremely available," but the team would be selling at his low point. He is still an intriguing option despite his rough second half, a potential bargain as a top-of-the-rotation arm at a fraction of what the cost would be in free agency. Senga is already generating plenty of interest on the trade block. Let's take a look at three potential landing spots if he is dealt during the offseason.

Three potential trade destinations for New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga

1. San Diego Padres

The Padres, like the Mets, need to completely remake their rotation. The difference is that the Padres do not have the same level of internal options as the Mets do. Pitchers Dylan Cease and Michael King are free agents and are unlikely to return to San Diego. Yu Darvish had elbow surgery and will be lost for the 2026 season. The Padres need to find at least two pieces to slot behind Nick Pivetta in the rotation.

Senga would be a perfect fit as one of those additions. His $15 million salary is eminently affordable, even for a team with payroll concerns such as the Padres. He is also under team control for three more years due to a $15 million club option for 2028. Senga has the type of ace upside that the Padres need as they look to dethrone the Dodgers and advance deep into the postseason.

2. Baltimore Orioles

Senga's arsenal, particularly his splitter, has led to an above-average 44.6% ground-ball rate throughout his career. That ground-ball rate makes Senga an ideal fit for the Orioles, who have three players drafted as shortstops slotted around the infield.

Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias has stated that improving the rotation is a top priority this offseason. While Trevor Rogers pitched at an ace level in 2025, he had also struggled in three previous years as he battled injuries and inconsistency. Kyle Bradish has displayed the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation starter as well, but has been limited to 14 appearances over the past two seasons due to elbow woes that led to Tommy John surgery. Senga would be a cost-effective option to give the Orioles a potentially formidable trio as they look to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season.

3. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers starting rotation is filled with question marks heading into the offseason. Tarik Skubal has won consecutive AL Cy Young awards and is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, but he is not a given to be on the Tigers' Opening Day roster due to a sizable gap in extension talks. Jack Flaherty was a disappointment in his first season back in Detroit and is slated to be a free agent after the season. Casey Mize has become a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter, but the Tigers need more than that as they look to return to the postseason.

Senga could have two different paths to the Tigers. He could potentially be part of the return if the Tigers trade Skubal to the Mets, providing someone to immediately plug into the top of the rotation. The Tigers could also look to pair Skubal and Senga, giving them a potentially dominant duo for any postseason run.