The Case for Kodai Senga

[WhenWillWeBeatNY]

I believe the “ace” or at least good free agent starting pitchers are down to 3. Carlos Rodon, Chris Bassitt, and Kodai Senga. Nathan Eovaldi and Ross Stripling may be there but I don’t like Eovaldi’s injury history and Stripling doesn’t have consistent numbers. Now I know we haven’t really been reported on any talks with Senga but the more I think about it the more he could be a fit for us. The Twins want an ace obviously and Rodon is an ace but I think is a crazy overpay. There are reports of us trying to trade for an SP but Pablo Lopez for Arraez isn’t worth it but that’s a whole other topic. Anyway Senga has that potential to be that ace that we need and will also be way cheaper than a guy like Rodon. Obviously the issue is that he is coming from Japan which is always a gamble but his numbers are good and his “stuff” (mid 90’s fastball able to touch 100 with a nasty forkball) seems like it will play in the MLB. The other thing that I think would be on our side is Kenta Maeda. Another Japanese born pitcher that has gone through the same experience that Senga will go through. Maeda could mentor him to make the transition go smoothly and help him work out any hardships. Either way especially if the Twins lose out in Correa they should take a hard look at Kodai Senga.

[Doctor Gast]

Senga has some really crazy stuff, which would be nice to have a pitcher like that. But I've heard that he can fall into hard times with control, plus making that transition could magnify the problem. The risk is there but the reward is also. Can Maeda help? Maybe it's worth the chance if we don't sign Correa.

[Vanimal46]

I’m intrigued with Senga, but there’s a ton of risk to keep in mind. He’s a total wildcard. We can’t say with any certainty if he’s a top of the rotation guy like Yu Darvish, or an expensive #5 like Yusei Kikuchi. 

[wsnydes]

I'm intrigued, but I think some other dominos need to fall, and fall the wrong way, before I'd get real serious about going after him.  

[ashbury]

28 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’m intrigued with Senga, but there’s a ton of risk to keep in mind. He’s a total wildcard. We can’t say with any certainty if he’s a top of the rotation guy like Yu Darvish, or an expensive #5 like Yusei Kikuchi. 

Darvish dominated the Japan Pacific League in a way few have. I don't think it's quite the crapshoot you're suggesting. Senga's JPPL record more closely resembles Kikuchi's, I think, so probably the latter is a better comp.

Oh, and goody. Another player to misspell the name for, if we sign him. Koudai.  I wouldn't mention it except it cost me a little time in failed searches in b-r.com. 

[chpettit19]

Boston just went bonkers on their Yoshida signing so that just adds to the craziness of the offseason. The accepted contracts, and reported offers, all feel significantly higher than what was expected and Boston made that true of the foreign signing market as well. I thought we were getting out of these crazy 10+ year deals for 30+ year olds, but they've sprung back up with a vengeance in the last week or so.

That being said, I like Senga, and would add him to the rotation in a vacuum, but I have no idea where his market is going to come in and how crazy that deal will be. I wouldn't be willing to take a whole lot of risk with him, but if the deal is reasonable he feels like a nice option.

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

This may be a good option at some point in this process.  I like his stuff but his age and length of contract (I've read he is asking for, or possibly been offered, 7 years) is not attractive.  But we may need to take the risk for the reward.

If they could get him on a good base, but incentive-laden contract then a Kikuchi outcome is not as painful, but a Darvish outcome would be a big win.

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

Oh, and goody. Another player to misspell the name for, if we sign him. Koudai.  I wouldn't mention it except it cost me a little time in failed searches in b-r.com. 

Lol ... title edited ... thanks

[Steve Lein]

I am intrigued by Senga, but signs and history don't sound all that great that he can be a starter long-term in MLB. Maybe an elite back-of-bullpen arm or long reliever when it's all said and done, which I am not against when it comes to him either. Maybe a lot like the Dodgers used Maeda, and maybe Maeda being here would be a bonus for signing him.

[Parfigliano]

3 hours ago, WhenWillWeBeatNY said:

I believe the “ace” or at least good free agent starting pitchers are down to 3. Carlos Rodon, Chris Bassitt, and Kodai Senga. Nathan Eovaldi and Ross Stripling may be there but I don’t like Eovaldi’s injury history and Stripling doesn’t have consistent numbers. Now I know we haven’t really been reported on any talks with Senga but the more I think about it the more he could be a fit for us. The Twins want an ace obviously and Rodon is an ace but I think is a crazy overpay. There are reports of us trying to trade for an SP but Pablo Lopez for Arraez isn’t worth it but that’s a whole other topic. Anyway Senga has that potential to be that ace that we need and will also be way cheaper than a guy like Rodon. Obviously the issue is that he is coming from Japan which is always a gamble but his numbers are good and his “stuff” (mid 90’s fastball able to touch 100 with a nasty forkball) seems like it will play in the MLB. The other thing that I think would be on our side is Kenta Maeda. Another Japanese born pitcher that has gone through the same experience that Senga will go through. Maeda could mentor him to make the transition go smoothly and help him work out any hardships. Either way especially if the Twins lose out in Correa they should take a hard look at Kodai Senga.

I would think the Nishioka tire fire would scare them off this type of signing

[chpettit19]

48 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

I would think the Nishioka tire fire would scare them off this type of signing

I certainly hope 1 bad signing they weren't involved in wouldn't stop them pursuing any moves. More and more players are coming over from Japan and Korea and having instant success in the majors. They're getting better and better at scouting those leagues and being able to predict how the players will translate to MLB.

[Mike Sixel]

7 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I certainly hope 1 bad signing they weren't involved in wouldn't stop them pursuing any moves. More and more players are coming over from Japan and Korea and having instant success in the majors. They're getting better and better at scouting those leagues and being able to predict how the players will translate to MLB.

This. 

[ashbury]

45 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I certainly hope 1 bad signing they weren't involved in wouldn't stop them pursuing any moves. More and more players are coming over from Japan and Korea and having instant success in the majors. They're getting better and better at scouting those leagues and being able to predict how the players will translate to MLB.

Right. Nishioka is worth learning from, but it has to be the right lesson.  I think it was Mark Twain who wrote that a cat who jumps up on a hot stove will never jump on a hot stove again, but she won't jump on a cold one either. (He didn't go on to say what importance he attached to cats on cold stoves.)

[roger]

Don’t understand why everyone isn’t happy, hell excited, about the starting rotation the Twins have today.  I sure as heck am.  Now if he was a dominant reliever, that would be different.

[mikelink45]

This is a good speculation.  I would be for it. 

[Cornholio]

I believe I read on MLBTR that Senga was looking for a big market team where he would be the only Japanese player.

[lecroy24fan]

Senga to the Mets

 

 

[Rosterman]

Well, at least the Mets are contributing the the "cheapo team" fund with whatever more penalities they have to pay!

[USAFChief]

On 12/9/2022 at 11:45 AM, Squirrel said:

Lol ... title edited ... thanks

99% positive it's Kodai. I think BBRef got this one wrong. 

"ou" isn't a normal Japanese anglicization, as far as I know.