As the 2026 MLB season approaches, the spotlight on Kodai Senga intensifies, with the Mets and their seasoned veterans demanding tangible results from the pitcher. After a string of injuries and uneven performance, Senga enters spring training healthy, facing pressure to fulfill the promise of his $75 million contract and cement his role in the Mets’ rotation.
Ron Darling Sets Firm Expectations for Senga’s Role
Ron Darling, a former World Series champion and Mets icon, has publicly called on the team’s management to solidify Senga’s position within the five-man starting rotation. Darling emphasized that the rotation should function with Senga as a regular contributor rather than adapting around his inconsistencies. His statement reflects impatience with the pitcher’s fluctuating presence and an expectation for a consistent impact.
This is my feeling. [Kodai] Senga’s been here long enough, I think it’s time to be in a five-man rotation. The rotation should not work around him anymore; it should work with him,
said Ron Darling via SNY.
Darling’s remarks arrive as a blunt signal to Carlos Mendoza, the Mets’ manager, that Senga’s health struggles have tested the team’s patience, and this season must showcase his value.
Season Outlook: Kodai Senga’s Contract and Performance History
Kodai Senga is entering the fourth year of his five-year deal with the Mets, which runs through the 2027 season. This contract includes a no-trade clause and pays him $15 million for the 2026 season. Notably, Senga declined an opt-out option after the 2025 campaign.
His recent years have been plagued by injuries, including a hamstring issue in 2025 that led to a temporary demotion to Triple-A Syracuse for recovery. Despite a promising start that year with a 1.47 ERA over 13 starts, his performance declined to a 5.90 ERA during the last nine starts. Overall, he posted a 3.02 ERA and a 7-6 record across both levels. In 2024, injuries cut his season drastically short as he played in only one game.
In contrast, Senga’s debut season in 2023 stands as a high point. He made 29 starts that year, logging 166.1 innings with a 2.98 ERA and recording 202 strikeouts. His 12-7 win-loss record and 1.22 WHIP highlighted his impact, and he finished as the runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year award.
The Challenge of Securing Rotation Status Amidst Competition
Heading into 2026, Senga’s health appears restored, but the Mets have not rested in strengthening their pitching depth. The offseason acquisition of Freddy Peralta and the presence of promising prospects Jonah Tong and Tobias Myers have intensified competition for rotation spots. Manager Carlos Mendoza has stated that Senga’s health remains a crucial factor for his role.
He needs to be healthy. When he’s healthy, we know the type of pitcher he can be. People saw it in 2023. We saw it for the first two and a half months last year, how effective he was. And then he got hurt, and he wasn’t able to be himself again,
Mendoza explained, according to NorthJersey.com.
The Mets’ projected starting rotation currently lists Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, and David Peterson. If Mendoza follows Darling’s recommendation to guarantee Senga a spot in the starting five, one of these pitchers may have to move to the bullpen. This adjustment would not be simple since several of these pitchers have proven their worth.
Clay Holmes had a strong full season as a starter in 2025, pitching 165⅔ innings to a 3.53 ERA. Nolan McLean impressed with a 2.06 ERA across 48 innings in his major league debut. Both David Peterson and Sean Manaea have dealt with injuries but remain integral members when healthy. This established depth makes Senga’s position far from guaranteed.
Implications for Senga and the Mets’ 2026 Campaign
The upcoming season carries significant implications for both Kodai Senga and the New York Mets. For Senga, it represents a critical opportunity to validate the high expectations that accompanied his signing and to justify a lucrative contract. His ability to stay healthy and consistently deliver effective innings will determine whether he becomes a cornerstone of the Mets’ rotation or remains a peripheral figure.
For the Mets, embedding Senga solidly into the rotation could stabilize their pitching staff, a foundation crucial for pursuing postseason ambitions. Conversely, if Senga fails to meet expectations, the team’s pitching depth and recent acquisitions will be put to the test as alternatives vie to take his place.
As Opening Day nears, the Mets and their fans alike will be watching closely. Kodai Senga stands at a pivotal crossroads where performance, health, and opportunity intersect, making this season a defining chapter in his Mets tenure.
Ron Darling on Kodai Senga:
“This is my feeling. [Kodai] Senga’s been here long enough, I think it’s time to be in a five-man rotation. The rotation should not work around him anymore; it should work with him.”
(SNY)
— Dan Bartels (@DanBartels2) February 28, 2026
