Mets Trade Rumors: Kodai Senga Draws Interest from MLB Teams

The future of Kodai Senga in Queens suddenly feels like one of the most intriguing storylines of the New York Mets’ offseason. Multiple MLB teams are circling the right-hander as a potential trade target, but Senga himself has said he’d rather stay put, rebuild his value, and reclaim his spot as a top-of-the-rotation arm in Flushing.

That tension—player loyalty versus front-office pragmatism—sets the stage for a pivotal decision in the Mets’ pitching plans. It’s a classic case of heart versus head, and honestly, who knows which way it’ll swing?

Kodai Senga Wants to Stay a Met — But Knows He Might Be Moved

According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, Senga really wants to remain with the Mets. He believes he can reassert himself as a front-line starter in New York.

Senga feels a genuine loyalty to both the organization and its fan base. This isn’t a guy looking for the exit; he wants another shot to prove he can lead a staff.

But Senga isn’t naive. He gets that baseball’s a business, and a club with postseason ambitions can’t just ignore trade value.

The Mets’ rotation picture is crowded, and free agency’s pretty thin right now.

Balancing Loyalty and the Business of Baseball

Senga’s stance fits the modern MLB dilemma. On one hand, he’s showing commitment and accountability, wanting to fix what went wrong and perform for the team that brought him over from Japan.

On the other, he knows his contract, upside, and track record could make him one of the most appealing arms on the market.

A Tale of Two Kodai Sengas: Rookie Stardom vs. Recent Struggles

To understand why teams still want Senga, you’ve got to look at the full arc of his Mets tenure. His early New York chapter looked like the start of something special.

The recent chapters? Well, they’ve been a lot more complicated.

At 32 years old, Senga’s already shown he can perform at an All-Star level in MLB. But injuries and inconsistency have clouded that picture these last two seasons.

Senga’s Stellar 2023 Rookie Season

In 2023, Senga was everything the Mets hoped for and then some. He handled the jump from NPB to MLB with poise and a nasty, deceptive arsenal.

The numbers tell the story:

• 12–7 record
• 2.98 ERA
• 1.22 WHIP
• 202 strikeouts in 166.1 innings

That performance established him as one of the best rookie pitchers in the game. His signature “ghost fork” made him a nightmare for hitters and a focal point of the Mets’ pitching plans.

Injuries, Ineffectiveness, and a 2025 Demotion

The last two seasons have told a different story. Injuries limited Senga to just one start in 2024, stalling all that rookie-year momentum.

When he returned in 2025, the command, sharpness, and confidence just weren’t there. By midseason, the numbers got ugly:

• 5.25 ERA in July
• 6.28 ERA in August

Those struggles led to a demotion to Triple-A in September. For rival clubs, though, that slide could be an opportunity—a chance to buy low on a pitcher with top-end upside if he can stay healthy and get his mechanics back on track.

A Crowded Mets Rotation Complicates Senga’s Outlook

The Mets’ internal depth chart adds another wrinkle. The organization already has a collection of arms who can fill out a big-league rotation.

More are coming up through the farm system, too. As it stands, the Mets’ rotation mix features several established and emerging options.

The front office has some tough choices to make about roles and roster spots.

Who the Mets Have Now — and Who’s Coming

The current rotation includes:

• Nolan McLean
• Clay Holmes
• Sean Manaea
• David Peterson

Behind them, there’s another wave of arms pushing for innings:

• Brandon Sproat
• Jonah Tong
• Christian Scott

This is why the Mets can feel “crowded” in the rotation and still be actively seeking rotation help. They’ve got quantity, but they’re still searching for more reliable quality at the top.

Why Senga Is a Trade Wild Card in a Thin Pitching Market

The external landscape matters just as much. This year’s free-agent class for starting pitchers isn’t particularly deep, which boosts the trade market for teams needing an impact arm—or at least a high-upside roll of the dice.

The Mets are likely to add only one more starter, unless they clear space via a trade. That’s where Senga enters the equation as both a possible solution and a potential trade chip.

A High-Upside Gamble for Contenders

For rival teams, Senga looks like a classic buy-low gamble with real upside:

• He’s already shown he can dominate MLB lineups for a full season.
• At 32, he’s still in that productive window for starters.
• His recent struggles? You could chalk those up to injuries—maybe even something a new environment or approach could fix.

If the Mets spot another frontline pitcher they like more, and need to move some salary or free up a rotation spot, trading Senga starts to make a lot of sense.

But if they stick with him and hope for a rebound, Mets fans might get another shot at seeing him on the Citi Field mound in 2026—maybe with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

Kodai Senga remains one of those names you just can’t ignore as the Mets—and honestly, the rest of the league—figure out their rotations for the next few seasons.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Will Mets Trade Kodai Senga? Latest Rumors on Pitcher amid Interest from MLB Teams