The Mets keep bringing in talent, as they inked Kodai Senga to a 5/$75 deal. The Senga signing gives the Mets five starters and likely ends the club’s pursuit to re-sign Chris Bassitt. Although with the way Steve Cohen and Billy Eppler have acted this year, perhaps we shouldn’t rule that out.
Senga, who will turn 30 before the start of the 2023 season, throws hard, regularly throwing above 95 and can reach triple digits. But the key to his success is his splitter, which is his swing-and-miss pitch. He’ll mix in other breaking balls and offspeed pitches, too.
In 11 years pitching overseas, Senga is 104-51 with a 2.42 ERA, with 1,486 Ks in 1,340.2 IP. There have been some command/control problems sprinkled throughout his career. But last year he had a 3.0 BB/9.
ZiPS forecasts him for a 2.9 fWAR in the majors this year.
I can’t say that I know anything about Senga outside of what is written by various sports writers, but I will say that while perhaps riskier than a Bassitt or Walker resign, it is definitely more exciting.
I am dumbfounded! Eppler, with Cohen’s money, has re-built a pitching staff that doesn’t have a weak link. Five starting pitchers, three starting depth pitchers, a closer and two setup men, one for LHB and the other RHB. Amazing!
I just saw this. I am thrilled with this signing. Maybe they aren’t done yet. Maybe we get another bullpen arm and power hitter. This is more excitement than we have had in decades.
What I like about this, is that having Senga and the Mets commitment to win could be a big draw to Ohtani.
Santa has been very generous this year.
Uncle Steve is something,isn’t he?
Now another bat may not be out of the question. I think Carrasco has some trade value as $14 million for one season of a decent veteran May now be under market. I could live with diluting the starters slightly for a LH DH upgrade and/or one more proven later inning bullpen arm.
What kind of upgrade do you envision from a guy who put up a 139 OPS+ and a 144 wRC+ as the LH DH? And how much would you have to pay to get that upgrade?
Vogelbach was both fantastic and fun to watch in his two plus months with the Mets. If he was to deliver those numbers again, for sure it would be tough to upgrade. It is certainly good to have him on the roster now, at the bargain price of $1.5 million, but I have concerns at to whether he can perform to that level again and for a full season. He is so one-dimensional that anything below those gaudy OPS+/wRC+ figures would not be worth it. He is a guy that should never play in the field an should virtually never hit against LHP. Can a championship-caliber team afford a guy like that on the 26-man? Maybe, but with only Baty’s LH bat in reserve, they should certainly consider a little more LH pop. Cost-wise, even though cost doesn’t appear to be an issue for the Mets, I’d look to a lower cost guy on a one year…perhaps a Brandon Belt, a Michael Conforto, or there may be some lower cost trade candidates out there with some LH pop that can play OF reliably that could join Vogelbach on the roster.
Well really half-dimensional! LH DH!
The one thing about Vogey that gives me a small hope for success at the plate is the banning of shifts. For a guy that looks like The Thing from the Fantastic Four, he suffered greatly from grounding into short right field and trying to avoid that with his exaggerated uppercut swing.
Senga will be a great gate attraction, bringing in more $$. And, most importantly, he will make our rotation the best in baseball, I believe. Good depth there now, as well.
Alvarez and Vientos are RHB. Baty Is a LHB. Mauricio is a switch hitter. All are top prospects. All is be in the Mets future. All will not be starters at the beginning. All will have a chance to acclimate themselves to the Majors. Let’s be patient with them and not block their paths with more veterans. We maybe we’ll be surprised at the results.
Agreed on patience and not blocking their paths. However, with all these signings and a top of the rotation aged 38 and 40, this is a 100% now team that needs to eliminate all weak links. Right now, Ruf/Vogelbach/DH is the weakest link, mostly offensively but also defensively.
I am high on each of these kids, but with regards to 2023, the kids need to be the backup options and force their way on the scene. Mauricio has no PA in AAA. Baty has under 30, Alvarez under 200. Only Vientos has a full season. It could be reasonable to leave an early path for Vientos/Alvarez to emerge and earn the RH DH AB, but the they are lacking overall power and specifically lacking LH power.
Mets also need another guy on the roster that can reliably play OF.
Not only is Senga a great grab, it lays groundwork for bringing in Ohtani as a FA. Eppler is responsible for scouting Tanaka, Ohtani, and Senga. I think bringing in Ohtani is exactly what Cohen and Eppler have in mind. A lot will be coming off the books with Max and Verlander in short time so replacing with an ace and power hitter is so smart. I expect that to happen.
The Cohen approach for this off season is exactly what I envisioned. With so many FAs leaving and not a bastion of people to promote or young talent like the Braves at MLB level, the cost for this season in the context of wanting to compete seriously was destined to be expensive. Cohen/Eppler plan is clear: 1. Win Win Win. 2. Not sacrifice the farm. 3. Do not give up on drafts by signing FAs with QOs. It’s 100% transparent.
As Brian’s article makes clear, at some point, this will back down as short expensive contracts expire and quality youth can bleed in. I love what the plan looks like and its evolution. For the first time we can really see what “win now” means when you don’t have the Braves plan in place. Let’s hope they lock Pete before he’s a 350M$ purchase.
Kodai Senga was very much on my wish list.
The way I see it, the Mets have a better (on paper) starting rotation than 2022 and a similar lineup. That lineup is improved immensely by replacing at-bats given to Darin Ruf, James McCann or Tomas Nido with Francisco Alvarez. The idea of giving Alvarez a timeshare at catcher and all starts against left handed pitching as DH improves the offense a lot.
Without an injury, there is not space for Brett Baty or Mark Vientos on the major league squad and since they both play third base (to varying degrees of success). I am wondering how the Mets field things in AAA. Right now I have Baty on 3rd as he actually has the chops to play there consistently, with Vientos getting time all over (3B/1B/LF/DH). I have Ronny Mauricio shifting into the outfield as well.
I’m still not happy with the bullpen. Edwin Diaz, Dave Robertson, Drew Smith and Brooks Raley are good but I’m slotting Zach Greene, Jeff Brigham and either Eric Orze or Bryce Motes de Oca in the back end of the bullpen.
Am I really asking Uncle Steve for more?
Remaining Wishlist:
1. Middle Reliever
2. Fourth Outfielder (Better than Khalil Lee)
3. Get rid of Darin Ruf and/or James McCann
Totally agreed David. It is time to make Mauricio a corner outfielder. Vientos is going to become the everywhere else but where Guillorme plays utility guy.
Will be interesting if Baty really has the where with all to stick at 3B. Sure would be nice. Could Mauricio play 3B?
Mauricio is playing 3B in Winter Ball this season, at the request of his Dominican team, not something the Mets asked. And he’s doing really well at the plate, slashing .297/.347/.491 in 190 PA
Definitely saw how well he was hitting but wasn’t aware of the position shift. I’d be interested in comparing Mauricio’s and Baty’s defense at third and the outfield. Baty wasn’t half bad in left.
The position change happened recently – like two weeks ago or so. He still has much more time this winter at SS. But any reps at a new position is good.
As for the Baty/Mauricio who plays where question – The Athletic’s beat writer for the Mets just had a call for mailbag questions and I asked that one a couple of days ago. If he chooses my question, I’ll cut and paste his answer and put it here.
How can you not like signing of a pitcher who is so highly rated and possibly the second best pitcher in Japan and who I’m sure Eppler properly scouted? As far as Vogelbach, an out of shape man after my own heart, without the shift he might just drive in 75 runs. No issue with him on the left side and Alvarez on the right side for our Dh’s. Need to get Alvarez’s bat In the lineup when he is not catching. Also Vientos can DH but so I’d like to see Ruff and Naquin somewhere else. Don’t like the idea of trading Corasco after the year he had last year just to dump $14 million given the need for pitching during the year.