SAN DIEGO -- A surreal scene unfolded in the visiting clubhouse Wednesday at Petco Park, moments after the Mets’ 5-0 loss to the Padres. As players milled around the clubhouse showering and dressing, some made their way over to reliever José Buttó, who had been traded to the Giants during the game. They said goodbye to their longtime friend.
As this was happening, the first ripples of a fresh news story hit the room. The Mets, who had just acquired elite setup man Tyler Rogers for Buttó and two prospects, struck again with a trade for Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley. Players began chatting excitedly as the implication hit them.
The Mets had created a super bullpen.
“I might be pitching the fourth inning,” setup man Ryne Stanek quipped as the news came across his phone.
“I might be the opener,” shot back teammate Brooks Raley.
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With two quick strokes on Wednesday, the Mets changed the narrative arc of their 2025 season. Stung frequently by an inconsistent relief corps that has ranked 17th in the Majors in ERA since the start of May, the Mets now have reason to consider themselves one of the top units in baseball.
TRADE DETAILS
Mets receive: RHP Tyler Rogers
Giants receive: RHP José Buttó, RHP prospect Blade Tidwell, OF prospect Drew Gilbert
Mets receive: RHP Ryan Helsley
Cardinals receive: INF prospect Jesus Baez, RHP prospect Nate Dohm, RHP prospect Frank Elissalt
Helsley, 31, led the Majors last season with 49 saves. Though he hasn’t been quite as untouchable this year, he’s still racked up 21 saves in 26 chances with a 3.00 ERA. In New York, he’ll serve as a setup man ahead of three-time All-Star Edwin Díaz.
Rogers, 34, has been one of the game’s most dependable relievers over the last seven years, leading the NL in appearances three times. Known for his unique submarine arm slot, Rogers averages 83.3 mph with his sinker and 74 mph on his slider, but he consistently induces bad swings and soft contact. He joins the Mets with a 1.80 ERA.
In addition to those two, the Mets recently acquired left-hander Gregory Soto from the Orioles. Their top seven relievers are now an impressive and diverse bunch: Díaz, Helsley, Rogers, Stanek, Raley, Soto and Reed Garrett. Within that group is an array of arm angles and pitch mixes -- a crucial element in October, when teams grow intimately familiar with one another.
“Bullpens win championships,” Stanek said. “That’s what matters.”
Considering both Helsley and Rogers are pure rentals who can be free agents after the season, the price to acquire them was steep. For Helsley, the Mets gave up their Nos. 8 and 14 prospects in infielder Jesus Baez and right-hander Nate Dohm, as well as a recent Draft pick in Frank Elissalt. For Rogers, the Mets parted with an incumbent member of their bullpen in Buttó, as well as No. 10 prospect Blade Tidwell, who has already pitched in the Majors, and No. 12 prospect Drew Gilbert -- the headliner of the Justin Verlander trade two years ago.
Various industry sources, however, praised the total haul, citing significant risk in every prospect the Mets traded away.
Even if those players turn out to be valuable, Mets officials see a unique opportunity this season with their top four hitters -- Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo -- all healthy and in their physical primes. That sort of thing is never a given. So president of baseball operations David Stearns worked hard to supplement his roster in a logical place.
“You want to play in October because you never know if it is going to be your last time or your only time,” Helsley said before leaving St. Louis. “We take it for granted sometimes, and I think when you have that chance and another team wants you to add you to their team, that’s a big deal.”
With the Trade Deadline not until 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, the Mets still have time to bolster their roster even further. To that end, they remain engaged in talks to add an offensive piece, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation. Their most likely add would be a center fielder such as Luis Robert Jr., but it doesn’t have to be.
The Mets have also shown some interest in adding to their rotation -- an area that seemed to take on growing importance when Clay Holmes failed to complete four innings in Wednesday’s loss. Despite that, Mets officials view the offense as a higher priority than the rotation.
Heading into Wednesday, they viewed the bullpen as their highest priority of all -- a mission they have since fulfilled.
Said manager Carlos Mendoza: “We got better as a team.”