The Mets’ pursuit of Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki fell short, and fellow countryman Kodai Senga thinks he knows why – it’s all about the weather.
Senga, who’s entering his second season with New York, believes LA’s climate gives West Coast teams an edge in landing Japanese talent. “He didn’t talk to Sasaki during his recruitment process, but thinks the weather in LA is a big factor for Japanese players – and a reason why the Mets haven’t added another top Japanese FA,” according to Jorge Castillo.
It’s not just about temperature. Los Angeles offers Japanese players a shorter flight home and an established community of countrymen. The Dodgers have loaded up on Japanese stars, with Sasaki joining Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in what’s shaping up to be baseball’s most formidable rotation. Add Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell to that mix, and you’ve got a starting five that’s going to give hitters nightmares.
The Mets weren’t exactly sitting on their hands this offseason. They’ve been matching the Dodgers dollar for dollar, bringing in Juan Soto and extending Pete Alonso. Their rotation got some attention too, with additions like Clay Holmes, Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea, and Griffin Canning.
New York stayed in the Sasaki sweepstakes until he narrowed his choices to three teams – the Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Padres. That’s two West Coast teams and one that plays in a dome.
The way things are trending, the Mets might need to get creative to compete for Japanese talent. They’re showing they can spend with the best of them, but some factors – like geography and climate – just aren’t negotiable.
After falling to the Dodgers in last year’s NLCS, the Mets are seeing their West Coast rivals pull even further ahead in the race for international talent. Senga’s weather theory might explain why.
