Brand new Blue Jays trade chip can put a wrinkle in NY Mets’ plans for Kodai Senga

The free agent signing of Dylan Cease put the rest of the league on notice that the Toronto Blue Jays aren’t going to look at their American League pennant as a victory. The addition of Cody Ponce as an expensive flier thanks to his overseas performance furthered the idea of Toronto going into next year with a far different looking team than they had in 2025, at least from a pitching standpoint. Two new rotation pieces added in now helps bump Jose Berrios onto the trade block. For the New York Mets, this puts a small dent in their plans for trading Kodai Senga.

Berrios and Senga have a bit in common. Each struggled in the second half and were demoted in one way or another. Berrios didn’t get to go along for the ride with the Blue Jays as right elbow inflammation sidelined him late. This paved the way for others, notably Trey Yesevage, to become a star.

We’d like to think the Mets and Blue Jays have more in common than a top-of-the-rotation quality pitcher who has seen better days. With Berrios now available with something different to offer than Senga, the Mets’ top pitching trade candidate may be viewed a little differently.

Despite his season-ending injury, Jose Berrios brings a durability factor the Mets haven’t gotten from Kodai Senga

Senga is making less money than Berrios next year and will do so in 2027 and 2028 when the latter’s contract creeps closer to $25 million with incentives that can push it up to another $5 million. Berrios does have an opt out after 2026. Turning 32 in May with a 4.17 ERA season that ended worse than it began, he’s trending more toward opting into any contract than out.

Berrios has been resilient at staying healthy. He has made 30 starts in every season (except the shortened 2020 campaign) every year since 2018. Last year was a descent after two good years in Toronto. However, it wasn’t completely out of character. In 2022, he led the league in hits allowed and earned runs but with a 12-7 record and a full 32-start campaign. Many teams will gladly take a pitcher who can grab the ball every five days even if it means suffering through a less than stellar final result.

Financially, Senga is the better player to target via trade. But with an injury last year and two separate ones that knocked him out for all but one regular season performance in 2024, he comes with the exact opposite question of Berrios.

When they’re on the field, Senga is projected to be far better. Berrios is more of a fourth starter on a good team or maybe even less so. Senga is a good number two to have around. You just can’t count on him to be around.