The Mets signed a brilliant pitching contract and they can’t even maximize it

The New York Mets entered 2025 hoping Kodai Senga would finally anchor their rotation the way they imagined when they signed him out of Japan. Three years later, that vision remains only partially realized. Senga has been electric when healthy, but “when healthy” has become the lingering disclaimer that defines his tenure in Queens.

Senga’s deal — five years, $75 million — looked like a masterclass in scouting and risk management when he first arrived. His 2023 debut backed that up, with 166.1 innings of 2.98 ERA baseball, dominant stuff, and the kind of poise the Mets have long craved at the top of their rotation. But durability, not talent, has been the problem ever since.

Injuries have limited his ceiling

The past two years have tested the Mets’ patience. Senga managed only 5.1 innin