Desperate Padres eye Mets Kodai Senga as unique rotation solution

If you were having a pool on the most untradeable Met, Kodai Senga very well could be the frontrunner considering the dastardly duo of bad health and performance that has plagued him.Yet, the Padres actually have checked in on Senga, a player they pursued as a free agent after the 2022 season.San Diego under head of baseball operations A.J.Preller is known for hyper activity at this time of year.

Preller relentlessly pursues every area he can, is determined to find upgrades for his team and has particular fondness for players he has long liked.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.For example, multiple sources said that Preller has at least considered ways to acquire one of his long-time targets, Rafael Devers, though with seven years at $211 million left on his pact, he has one of the most unappealing remaining contracts in the majors.

But the Padres have been determined to add lefty-hitting and starting pitching at this deadline.Senga is not exactly even a starting pitcher, and the Padres were described as more in the investigating and inquiring mode that heavily focused on the righty.However, San Diego is in a desperate spot when it comes to getting length from starters – Michael King gives that to them regularly and no one else.So the Padres have taken to opening relievers or using multiple hybrid-type starters to cover innings. On Friday, in his first start since June 23, Senga dominated the Marlins for four innings before fading and not getting an out in the fifth.

Those four innings, though, could be a window to how Senga might be used best the rest of the year. Of course, there are myriad hurdles.Senga is owed about $4.7 million more this season and $14 million next year.

He had a 1.47 ERA through June 12 last season, when he hurt his right hamstring catching a high toss from Pete Alonso.Since then he has been oft-injured and terrible when he has pi...