Kodai Senga’s Future with the Mets: A Mixed Outlook

Kodai Senga seems to have discovered his place for the 2026 season, though his role for the upcoming season is still up in the air, according to David Stearns.

After an initial struggle, where he posted an ERA of 10.08 following a start on June 23, Senga, a right-handed pitcher known for his electric style but also for being somewhat unpredictable, found himself out of the Mets’ starting rotation.

However, a shift to the bullpen, and eventually stepping in as the closer for Devin Williams, has rejuvenated his game. He’s now five-for-five in save opportunities and has shown impressive performance during brief appearances, sporting a 1.54 ERA in 12 games, which includes a scoreless ninth inning on Friday. This improvement came after the trade deadline when extra spots opened up in the bullpen.

“It’s fun to see,” noted Stearns before the Mets’ 10-6 victory over the Giants at Citi Field. “I think his commitment to this role—even though he sees himself as a starter and likely prefers that—has become a terrific example for his teammates and the organization. He’s done incredibly well. As for what happens next year, that’s still to be figured out.”

Senga’s potential seems bright, especially with a return to the rotation for someone who made it to the All-Star game in 2023, but injuries and inconsistent performances have plagued him since then.

Looking ahead, the Mets plan to include Nolan McLean and Christian Scott in their rotation, and with Senga’s recent turnaround, it’s likely Sean Manaea will remain in the mix as well.

Each start by Zac Thornton reinforces his case for a spot in 2027, while others like Robert Stock, Tylor Megill, and Jonah Tong are also in contention, accompanied by any new players Stearns might acquire through trades or free agency.

Determining Senga’s position, given his $15 million contract next season, will require careful consideration over the winter and spring months, especially after the performances seen in August and September.

In other pitcher updates, Stock, who threw 72 pitches as a starter on Monday, made an unexpected appearance in relief and recorded the final out. In turn, interim manager Andy Green announced that Jonah Tong, who has been performing well in Triple-A Syracuse, will start on Monday in Miami.

With Manaea set to pitch on Tuesday, Green mentioned the team would clarify their situation by the end of their series in Miami. Due to a long layoff, Stock became available for bullpen duty.

“He’s shown solid potential at times when coming out of the bullpen,” Stearns observed.

Throughout nearly three years in Queens, Stearns has worked without a general manager and was noncommittal about hiring one this offseason.

“We’re always looking for ways to enhance our organization, including our front office,” he said. “That has been the aim every offseason since I began here, and it will continue this year.”

He reiterated the intention for interim manager Andy Green to return to a front-office position after the season concludes.

Amid the ups and downs of this season, Stearns expressed confidence in Manaea for next year. Once out of the rotation due to declining performance, Manaea bounced back to join the starters effectively until facing some recent challenges. He carries a 4.70 ERA overall.

“We definitely need Sean to focus on a solid offseason and return ready because he will be part of the team next season,” Stearns stated regarding Manaea, who is also due $25 million next year. “He’s shown he can compete at a high level and contribute to a major league roster.”

The Mets have also officially released their tentative spring training schedule for 2027, starting on February 19 in Port St. Lucie with a matchup against the Marlins.