The news that Kodai Senga is experiencing arm fatigue and may get an MRI to get a more precise diagnosis was delivered to the fans of the New York Mets.
Naturally, Mets fans are looking for someone to vent to if there is any kind of health concern over the planned Opening Day starter. Dealt a stay on the injured list just before the season in 2022 for Jacob deGrom, then again with Justin Verlander in 2023—it seems like history is repeating itself a bit sooner than normal this time.
This week, we’ll learn more about Senga’s health. Suggestions that the Mets might make an impulsive roster change in response appear completely out of place in the meantime. They will continue to be cautious with him and not rush to make any significant moves, provided that this isn’t a season-ending injury, which as of right now, doesn’t seem to be the case.
Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell won’t be signed by the Mets.
The Mets avoided signing Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, two of the top free agents available this offseason. Even now, occasionally a fan will post a poll asking whether the team ought to sign one of them. Even before the Senga story, this happened on social media on a daily basis.
A lifetime of bad news and Senga’s uncertainty have many Mets supporters thinking if they could make a last-minute switch. It’s a ridiculous notion to consider until we hear Senga is out for the season. Both players’ salary demands are not going to abruptly drop for the desperate Mets organization. Furthermore, the Mets avoided signing Snell right away and decided to take a short-term approach due to the consequences of signing him for the qualifying offer.
The Mets would have a shortage of players on their roster as soon as he returned, even if this injury meant an IL term to start the season. They aren’t designed to regularly carry six starting pitchers. They had not made any preparations for it.
But there’s another reason why Mets supporters should be a little miffed by the Senga injury concern. Only his opt-out following the 2025 season exacerbates the disappointments of the previous year. To top it off, the franchise may be wasting another season with Senga on the roster for what seems to be a great deal if they don’t make a concerted attempt to improve the team this offseason.
With this injury, Senga might be able to avoid any kind of extended layoff and finish the season healthy once more, just like he did in 2023. If you keep flipping the coin long enough, the opposite side will ultimately come up. Senga had injury issues prior to accepting a contract with the Mets.
Even while this news may not have as much impact as we want, you are not alone if you’re not feeling good about it. The Mets’ offseason addition of players with injury concerns has drawn a lot of attention. This is a warning about the potential fragility of some of the players who were healthy in 2024.