Kodai Senga’s margin for error with the Mets has all but vanished.
With the MLB trade deadline set for August 3, New York is staring at a difficult decision on a pitcher who was an All-Star and a National League Rookie of the Year contender in 2023, but has looked nothing like that version this season. At 33, Senga has become a problem the Mets need to sort out fast, and the clock is working against them.
The contract only makes the situation messier. Senga has a 10-team no-trade clause built into his deal between 2026-28, and he is scheduled to make $15 million in 2027 with a conditional club option in 2028, per Spotrac.
That kind of setup already made him a tough move. The way he has pitched has pushed the value even lower.
The numbers are brutal. Senga is 0-7 with an 8.85 ERA in 12 appearances, including seven starts. For a Mets team trying to figure out whether there is any path forward with him, that kind of production leaves very little room to maneuver.
New York opened the 2026 season with Senga in the rotation, but the results fell apart quickly. He posted a 9.00 ERA in his first five starts, then landed on the IL at the end of April with lumbar spine inflammation.
When he returned in mid-June, the comeback did not stick. In two starts, he was hit hard for a 12.91 ERA, allowing 11 earned runs and four home runs in 7.2 innings.
After that, the Mets had to try something different and moved him to the bullpen.
His first four relief outings were at least a step in the right direction. Senga logged a 5.50 ERA, gave up 11 hits, seven earned runs, three home runs and five walks, and struck out 13 over 11.2 innings. It was still far from good, but it was better than what he had done as a starter.
Then came his latest appearance against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, and it was another rough one. Coming in for Sean Manaea, Senga allowed three hits, three walks and two earned runs while striking out two in 1.1 innings. Philadelphia also hit .600 BAbip against him, a snapshot of how little has gone right.
Now the Mets are left weighing ugly choices. They could try to trade him for whatever they can get.
They could go the DFA route, which some fans want David Stearns to take. Or they could keep him around and hope there is still something to salvage before revisiting a move in the offseason.
For now, though, one thing is clear: Senga is running out of chances with the Mets.
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