Kodai Senga was staring down a brutal 0-7 record and a shocking 9.66 ERA as a starter this season, a complete disaster that saw him completely fall off. But then the Mets made a bold move, turning him into their closer, and suddenly he’s gone 8-for-9 in save opportunities. Now, with Devin Williams back from the IL, Senga’s role for next season is in absolute limbo, and the team just can’t figure out where this guy fits into their future plans.
The Wild Ride of 2026: From Ace Gone Awry to Back-End Boss
Man, what a rollercoaster for Senga in 2026. This dude, once a highly touted starter and 2023 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, just cratered at the start of the year. We’re talking a 9.66 ERA across eight starts, going 0-7. Injuries had plagued his career, but this year’s collapse was something else. Then came early August. With Williams sidelined by a right shoulder strain, the Mets made a bold move, throwing Senga into the fire as their closer. And what happened? He absolutely thrived! This was a new role, but he quickly found his groove, grabbing saves in his first seven opportunities and rocking a stellar 1.74 ERA in August. Sure, he had one rough outing against the Phillies on September 20, but he’s been rock solid at the back of that bullpen, even shutting down the Texas Rangers in a 6-3 win on Tuesday. He proved he can pitch out of the bullpen, no question.
Manager Green Is Clueless, and the Mets’ Future Is a Mess
Now that Williams is healthy again, Mets manager Andy Green is facing an impossible decision. He gave major props to Senga’s bullpen work, saying, “I think we have an idea of how he fits in the pen now which is really, really helpful.” But pressed on Senga’s role for next year, Green couldn’t commit. “We will make the determination based on what we feel is best for the team and where he fits best,” he said, adding it was “impossible to answer at this moment.” Before this tumultuous season, Senga was 20-13 with a 3.00 ERA over 52 starts, one of the league’s “most interesting starters.” Green admitted, “I think there’s a real decision point there and it’s not one we’re ready to make today.” After a “disastrous season,” the team faces massive uncertainty. “We don’t know the depth of our rotation going into ’27 right now,” with free agency ahead, Green stated. They need to figure out where “the puzzle piece fits the best.”
Senga Wants the Rotation, But the Bullpen Beckons
Here’s the kicker: Senga himself wants to be a starter. That’s all he’s ever known before this year’s wild bullpen experiment. He’s heading into the final year of his five-year, $75 million contract, so this decision is huge for him personally. Green even confirmed, “I think he has been really good expressing to us his passion resides in the rotation.” So, what are the Mets going to do? Do they put a guy who was a total train wreck as a starter back in the rotation just because he wants it, or do they keep him in the bullpen where he just found incredible success? This isn’t just a tough call, it’s a monumental gamble either way for a team trying to rebuild after a truly disastrous year. They’ve got to sort this out, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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