NEW YORK -- Two days after being traded for each other, right-handed relievers Tyler Rogers and Jose Butto found themselves settling into opposing bullpens at Citi Field on Friday night.
After spending 13 seasons in the Giants organization, Rogers was dealt to the Mets in exchange for Buttó and two prospects -- right-hander Blade Tidwell and outfielder Drew Gilbert -- on Wednesday.
Rogers wasn’t entirely surprised by the trade given his status as a pending free agent. The greater unknown for the 34-year-old submariner was how it would feel to potentially make his Mets debut against the team that drafted him in the 10th round of the 2013 Draft and then watched him blossom into one of the most reliable relievers in the Majors over the last seven seasons.
“To go out there and pitch for a new team for the first ever is going to be weird,” Rogers said Friday. “And then to look up and see a Giants uniform in the batter’s box is going to be something. But no real expectations with that. Just kind of take it in stride. It’s going to be memorable, for sure. It’s the only team I haven’t faced yet. It’ll be interesting.”
Rogers found out he was joining the Mets in the middle of the Giants’ 2-1 loss to the Pirates on Wednesday, though he wasn’t forced to make any abrupt goodbyes right away. The Giants allowed him to fly with them to New York on their charter flight after the game, which gave him time to spend some final hours with his longtime teammates and reflect on his tenure in San Francisco.
“That actually worked out great to be able to say goodbye and put a bow on it,” Rogers said.
Rogers wasn’t the only member of his family to find himself on the move this week. His twin brother Taylor Rogers -- who spent two seasons with the Giants from 2023-24 -- was also traded from the Reds to the Pirates on Wednesday and then flipped to the Cubs the next day.
“Mom was having a day, that’s for sure,” Rogers said. “Another funny baseball thing. Just getting to play with him for two years and then getting traded on the same day. Just such a baseball thing to do.”
Rogers said his focus now is on helping the Mets get as far as they can go, though he didn’t rule out the possibility of re-signing with the Giants as a free agent this offseason.
“Great people over there,” Rogers said. “I gave them everything I had. I can’t say enough about the people over there, the city. It’s where I started. It’s where I got drafted. I can’t say any more than that.”
With Rogers no longer around to hold down the eighth inning, the Giants got their first look at Buttó in that same spot in their 4-3 series-opening win over the Mets on Friday. Buttó surrendered a game-tying sacrifice fly to Pete Alonso and then walked Ronny Mauricio to put a pair of runners on with two outs, but he coaxed an inning-ending forceout from Brett Baty to give San Francisco a chance to rally in extra innings.
“I consider myself a warrior,” Buttó said in Spanish before the game. ”Every time I take the mound, I give my 100 percent. If things don’t go right one day, then tomorrow is a new day. I always try to give my best to help the team win.”