“Senga’s preference to stay is notable, considering the Mets’ personnel changes over his short tenure. Since arriving from Japan, Senga has experienced a managerial change, a front-office leadership change and, most recently, a pitching coach change.”

That insight from Will Sammon of The Athletic paints a picture of a loyal soldier standing firm on shifting sand. You have to respect a guy who looks at a revolving door of leadership in Queens and still decides he wants to plant his flag there.

However, reports indicate that Kodai Senga’s loyalty might not be enough to save him from the realities of the business. The New York Mets are trying to offload veteran salary and clear the way for the future, and sentimentality rarely survives that kind of spreadsheet analysis.

Clearing the Decks

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