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Last winter showed the NY Mets how they can trade Sean Manaea or Kodai Senga

Clearing out the roster space is pretty important.
ByTim Boyle
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Sep 14, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Sep 14, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It’s going to be difficult to have the best team possible when Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga are on your roster. Neither should start for the New York Mets again. Manaea, in a swingman role, isn’t so bad to have around. Senga showed promise at times in relief. Do we really think he’ll be good for a full season?

Pick whichever pitcher you’d like to see the Mets move. You can take Manaea in the sixth starter role to have back or gamble on Senga being a quality reliever. In either case, shedding their salary and picking up a random prospect is the goal.

Can it be done? If last winter taught us anything, one trade proves it is possible.

Trading Jeff McNeil last offseason shows the Mets how they can push to move Sean Manaea or Kodai Senga this winter

Jeff McNeil was coming off of his second straight blah season with the Mets when they managed to flip him to the Athletics in a move that saved them $10 million. The Mets still paid $5.75 with the A’s taking the rest onto their payroll.

McNeil still had his use. The Athletics used him mostly at second base with a lot more first base logged than we probably expected. He appeared there in 43 total games. He was worth 2 OAA for those curious.

It didn’t end up being a great year for McNeil. He had a .681 OPS despite playing half of his games in Sacramento where you or I could challenge for a home run crown. His batting average did go up to .264, but his bat was void of power and his OBP sank with the rest of his production.

The Athletics have already decided not to pick up his option for 2027. He’s a free agent again. What was the point of this trade for the Athletics anyway?

Comparing McNeil to Manaea or Senga is fair enough for a couple of reasons. Yes, both of them are coming off of down years. However, a pitcher like Manaea has similar versatile skills as McNeil. Swiss Army men at their respective positions, a team can view Manaea in a variety of ways and maybe even think he’s worth testing out in a shorter relief role. Of course, the Mets won’t get away with only paying around one-third of the salary.

A salary floor would make trades like this more likely with ball clubs looking to raise payroll. Even with that out of the equation, the potential of what either current Mets pitchers can accomplish might be too tempting as long as Steve Cohen pays half or more of the salary. Manaea, as a free agent, probably would get around $10 million. The same goes for Senga whose current $15 million salary for 2027 isn’t outrageous. He might be easier to move because of this along with the idea that he performed well enough in a closer’s role. 

Having both on the 2027 roster means the Mets can’t go out and actually improve either role the two would have in the best situation. The result of a Mets roster with Manaea and Senga means two fewer bullpen spots or one less starting pitcher and one reliever they need to pass on.

Pitching is a premium position and at a discount, the Mets should be able to find some team willing to take them on at a lower salary.

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