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3 potential landing spots for Kodai Senga

By David Hill |
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 07: Pitcher Kodai Senga #21 of Team Japan reacts after the sixth inning against Team United Staes during the gold medal game between Team United States and Team Japan on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium on August 07, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 07: Pitcher Kodai Senga #21 of Team Japan reacts after the sixth inning against Team United Staes during the gold medal game between Team United States and Team Japan on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium on August 07, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
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Kodai Senga is one of the biggest wild cards in free agency.

There is no question that he has nothing left to prove in Japan. He had become one of the top pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball, a dominant force for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. All that was left was for Senga to fulfill his dream of coming stateside, something that he had requested for years.

Three potential landing spots for Kodai Senga in free agency

That time is now here. Senga filed for international free agency, finally free of the posting system, and is set to come stateside. While there are questions as to whether or not he can stay in the rotation or be a late inning star, he is going to generate plenty of interest. It is just a matter of finding his destination.

Where will NPB superstar Kodai Senga end up in the majors? Let’s take a look at three teams that could end up with the intriguing pitcher.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs may not be the first team that comes to mind in regards to a pipeline of Japanese talent, but that should change.

After all, they emerged as the victors of the Seiya Suzuki Sweepstakes during the 2021-22 offseason. The Cubs had signed Yu Darvish as a free agent before trading him to the Padres as part of their rebuilding process. And they were the team that brought Kosuke Fukudome over from Japan. Other players have come through the Cubs organization as well as they have sought talent from all over the globe.

That pipeline could pay off. According to Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports, Suzuki has reached out to Senga to convince him to come to Chicago, touting his experience thus far with the Cubs as an attempt to lure him to the North Side. For what it is worth, the Cubs are also reportedly interested in Senga as well.

He would be a perfect fit as the Cubs look to return to the postseason. While they appear to have a pair of solid pieces in the rotation in Marcus Stroman and Justin Steele, they do need other pieces in the rotation. Senga may not be a top of the rotation arm, but he would be a perfect second or third option for a team looking to reach the postseason.

The Chicago Cubs may have an inside track when it comes to landing Kodai Senga. They could certainly use him to help the rotation.

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers spent the 2021-22 offseason focused on adding pieces to their lineup. While Jon Gray was brought in to help stabilize the rotation, there is still plenty of work to be done on the pitching side.

General manager Chris Young is certainly aware of the need for pitching help. He is already looking to bring Martin Perez back on an extension and is eyeing other pieces in the rotation. Gray and Perez are a good enough start for the middle of the rotation, but having those two as the top starters would not be nearly enough to contend for a playoff berth.

Kodai Senga would be a step in that direction. He has the potential to be a top of the rotation arm based on his plus fastball and devastating forkball even if his other offerings are fringy at best. However, he would be best suited as a third option, someone that could slot into the middle of the rotation until he proves himself at the major league level.

As it is, the Rangers are already considered a landing spot for some of the top pitchers available. They are expected to be heavily involved in the markets for Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and Clayton Kershaw as they look to upgrade the rotation. Adding one of those pitchers, along with Senga, could help in their quest to return to the playoffs.

The Texas Rangers are looking to bolster their pitching staff for the 2023 season. Kodai Senga could be a perfect addition to the middle of their rotation.

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Mets

Steve Cohen said that he would spend whatever it takes to turn the Mets into a winner. He certainly lived up to his end of the bargain during the 2021-22 offseason as the Mets made several major splashes en route to a 101 win season.

But that does not mean that the Mets can just coast into the offseason. They still have a lot of work to do, especially when it comes to the rotation. Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker are all free agents, leaving the Mets with plenty of holes to fill.

Even if deGrom does return, the Mets are going to need to find other pieces in the rotation. Senga would work well in Bassitt’s previous spot, slotting in as their third starter while having the potential to be far more. The Mets may not have three aces atop the rotation, but they would still have a formidable trio.

Senga would also be more than just another potentially solid arm for the rotation. He would be someone that the Mets could use to expand into the Japanese market, a source of revenue that had not been there before. The Mets would suddenly be much more interesting to fans overseas as they would have a reason to watch every fifth game at minimum.

Kodai Senga may not be someone that can replace Jacob deGrom, but he can be a solid piece for the New York Mets going forward.

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