Kodai Senga’s season has been rough enough to make him a complicated piece for the Mets, but not so rough that rival clubs have stopped calling.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Padres have checked in on the right-hander ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. San Diego also pursued Senga when he was a free agent before the 2023 season, and Sherman described A.J. Preller’s approach this time of year as relentlessly active.
That interest comes despite a year that has gone sideways for Senga. The 33-year-old is 0-8 with an 8.66 ERA in 13 outings, including eight starts. His latest appearance came Friday against the Marlins, when he was inserted as a spot starter after Freddy Peralta was scratched because of trade rumors.
Senga looked strong through four innings in that game, but the fifth unraveled fast. He failed to record an out in the frame and was charged with three earned runs.
The Padres are one of several clubs hunting for pitching help, and Senga’s name fits that search even with the warning signs attached. For much of the year, the Mets have kept him in the bullpen because he has been so ineffective in the rotation. That makes him a risky target for a team trying to patch up its staff in a hurry.
Still, the upside is impossible to ignore. Senga has flashed his old stuff at times this season, with a high-90s fastball and his signature forkball showing up in bursts. A change of scenery could matter, even if the performance has been uneven.
His contract adds another wrinkle. Senga is under team control for next year, the final season of his five-year, $75 million deal, which means any deal would likely require the Mets to absorb salary or take back one of San Diego’s bad contracts. Meanwhile, New York is expected to move several veterans before Monday’s deadline, especially players on expiring deals, so Senga could quickly become a secondary storyline if the market shifts elsewhere.
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