A new rumor may open the door to the Boston Red Sox or Baltimore Orioles making an intriguing trade for a high upside starter at a very affordable rate.
Things went very differently for the Red Sox and Orioles this past season. After making a blockbuster early-season trade that sent top star Rafael Devers to the Giants, Boston seemingly had a weight taken off and took a big step forward in its turnaround. Getting back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
As for the Orioles, they shockingly regressed in 2025. Following 101 and 91 win seasons and reaching the playoffs, Baltimore struggled all year and finished with just 75 wins. Their lowest numbers since, oddly enough, 2021. While the Sox and Os had very different results this past season, they are among the teams in search of the same thing this winter: Starting pitching.
Many intriguing options will be available in MLB free agency this offseason. High upside veterans like Framber Valdez and Shane Bieber. Second-tier players like Ranger Suarez, Zac Gallen, and Dylan Cease. As well as Japanese import Tatsuya Imai. However, finding a high-impact option on the trade market for a good price will also be a goal for both clubs, and they may be looking at the same player.
Could the Red Sox or Orioles target a trade for Kodai Senga?
According to The Athletic’s Mets reporter Tim Britton, former Japanese star Kodai Senga is drawing interest from “multiple teams” on the trade market.
“Senga is attracting trade interest from multiple teams, league sources said. Some clubs view Senga, 32, as an interesting buy-low candidate after he experienced an injury and ended the season in Triple A due to poor performance,” Britton writes.
It would make a lot of sense if both the Red Sox and Orioles were among the teams interested in acquiring Senga. When healthy, the one-time All-Star can be a legitimate No. 1 or 2 pitcher in most rotations. In his debut season, he won 12 games and had a sub-3.00 ERA.
- Kodai Senga contract: Five years, $75 million
In his sophomore year, a shoulder and calf injury forced him to miss much of the campaign. Last season, he had an ERA below 2.00 over the first three months of the season. But a hamstring injury in June sent him to the injured list, and he was never the same upon his return.
His injury woes are a legitimate concern. But with a contract that is only paying him a very affordable $15 million annually the next three years, the 32-year-old is worth the risk. Britton admits he is unsure about how willing New York is to move him. However, the Mets need to free up spaces in their rotation for their elite prospects, and Senga is one of the few pitchers they have that can get them a solid return in a trade.
