First things first: there is a risk of injury for any pitcher who takes the mound in a major league game. That’s just the way it works when you aim for velocity and then pile up hundreds of innings.
The New York Mets, who depended on their ace to keep their playoff hopes alive, have suffered a setback due to Kodai Senga’s injury, described as a “moderate right posterior capsule strain” in his shoulder. David Stearns, president of baseball operations, informed reporters on Thursday that Senga is anticipated to be placed on the injured list when the season starts.
However, it’s a reality that teams, like the Mets, seemed to be leery of.
Senga’s injury was listed as arm fatigue, but former Mets general manager Zack Scott said on X on Wednesday afternoon that he didn’t think it would be “a big deal.” “But it’s worth noting that multiple teams had concerns about his long-term health during free agency,” the 2020–21 Mets employee went on to say.
Senga, who is Japanese, was signed by the Mets in the offseason for a $75 million, five-year contract. With a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings over 29 starts, he developed into a superb starter but also needed to be handled carefully because he only pitched once a week, as opposed to every five days like most MLB starters. He was probably going to play a major role in a six-man rotation once more this season.
Furthermore, sources told The New York Post’s Jon Heyman that Senga had a “iffy” physical upon signing with the Mets, which may have contributed to his $75 million asking price. But after carefully reviewing the medicals, the Mets decided he was good enough to give him a contract offer. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a fellow countryman, received 12 years and $325 million, despite the fact that Senga was 30 years old during his rookie MLB season.
While Andy Martino of SNY issued a warning that Senga “could miss a few months,” Stearns stated that he anticipates Senga to “make a bunch of starts.”