The newest member of the New York Mets didn't waste any time inserting himself into one of baseball's best rivalries.
Monday, the Mets introduced Kodai Senga, who they signed to a five-year, $75 million contract earlier this month. While Senga used a translator for much of the press conference, Will Sammon of The Athletic says that he responded in English when asked about who he's looking forward to pitching against.
"The Phillies lineup."
In a break-off session after the press conference, Senga specifically mentioned two-time National League MVP Bryce Harper and reigning NL home run leader Kyle Schwarber as two players he's looking forward to facing after watching from afar.
He'll have to wait to face Harper, who will miss the beginning of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November, but the defending NL Champions still have an imposing lineup that now includes shortstop Trea Turner, who signed an 11-year, $300 million deal earlier this month.
The Mets' rotation saw Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt and new Phillie Taijuan Walker depart this offseason, but they still project to be one of the best in baseball after adding Justin Verlander and Jose Quintana as well as Senga, who was 11-6 with a 1.94 ERA across 144 innings for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Japan last season. His signature "Ghost Fork" pitch was part of what made him one of the offseason's most intriguing free agents.
The Phillies and Mets won't meet for the first time in 2023 until a three-game set at Citi Field which begins on May 30. But when you start to think about the NL East race -- which, of course, will also include the five-time defending champion Atlanta Braves -- it's hard not to get excited for next season.
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