Welcome to MLB Misery Index, a weekly analysis by USA TODAY of the negative attitudes and alarming patterns in baseball. The New York Mets, who have already lost their ace to injury and must now contend with the free agency of their cherished homegrown star, are the obvious choice to appear on the inaugural Misery Index. This is a team that lost 87 games last season with the largest payroll in baseball history, and they prudently threw in the towel by trading prospects for Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander before the trade deadline. Here is an update on the Mets, who are anticipated to contend for a wild-card place two seasons after winning 101 games:
KODAI SENGA’S INJURY IS A GUT-PUNCH
One of the few bright points for the squad in 2023 was the Japanese import’s outstanding debut year, which included 202 strikeouts in 29 starts and a 2.98 ERA. What gave the Mets hope going into training camp was his leadership of a pretty shallow rotation. Then the wound appeared.
Senga’s throwing shoulder has a capsule strain, as revealed by an MRI, and he had to come back to New York for a platelet-rich plasma injection. This will keep him out of the game for at least three weeks. For the franchise, which has experienced numerous spring trainings riding the high and low of two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom’s injury updates—or lack thereof—it’s an all too familiar scenario.
The very best thing that could happen is that Senga may debut early in May. However, the Mets may have to play without their ace for almost half the season if there are any more delays. A poor way to usher in spring.
PETE ALONSO’S IMPENDING FREE AGENCY
Pete Alonso, one of the best sluggers the team has ever produced and a free agent after the 2024 season, is the polar bear in the room. Alonso hasn’t stopped since breaking the rookie home run record with 53 in 2019; in the other complete MLB seasons, he’s hit 37, 40, and 46 home runs. And although organisations across baseball have given their young players long-term agreements, most notably the NL East champion Atlanta Braves, the Mets are allowing Alonso to finish out his walk year. As newly appointed president David Sterns pointed out, that was, in all fairness, the predictable course with Alonso represented by Scott Boras.
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