NEW YORK โ Pitchers Ryan Helsley and Tyler Rogers, along with outfielder Cedric Mullins, brought anticipation to the forefront as they joined the National League-East leading New York Mets on Friday. This team is in pursuit of its first championship title since 1986.
โEveryoneโs really pumped up โ theyโre matching my enthusiasm to be here,โ remarked Rogers before the Mets commenced a three-game series against San Francisco. Earlier in the week, the Giants had traded Rogers to New York in exchange for Josรฉ Buttรณ and two prospects.
The Mets, who lost to the World Series champions Los Angeles Dodgers in last yearโs NLCS, entered Fridayโs match-up holding a slim half-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. โLast week, when I was on the other side of the dugout, I thought, this team is the whole package,โ said Rogers as they met the Giants for a consecutive weekend series. โIโm thrilled to be part of it. Iโll contribute in any way they require.โ
Helsley, who chalked up 21 saves with the St. Louis Cardinals before being swapped for three prospects on Wednesday, along with Rogers, a sidearm pitcher who has made 392 appearances since 2019โone of the most in the majorsโare both set to strengthen a bullpen that started showing cracks, despite All-Star closer Edwin Dรญazโs presence.
โI admit I was slightly stunned at first, especially with Dรญaz here,โ Helsley noted. โHowever, in the playoff atmosphere, you welcome as many capable arms as possible.โ
Helsley expressed excitement about assisting as a set-up man for the Mets, whose bullpen holds an ERA of 3.80, ranking 11th overall in the league. In the past month, New York has made 36 transactions affecting 18 relievers, including acquiring left-hander Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles late in July.
โWhether itโs the sixth, seventh, or eighth inningโIโm ready to pitch whenever necessary,โ Helsley shared.
Mullins arrived at Citi Field just a few hours before Fridayโs first pitch after being traded from the Orioles for three pitching prospects the day before. Anticipated to soon take over starting duties in center field, Mullins enters a situation where slumping Tyrone Taylor and adapted infielder Jeff McNeil have been covering during Jose Siriโs leg injury recovery.
Mullins, who captured the Silver Slugger award in 2021 after achieving a 30/30 season with the Orioles, made memorable game-saving catches earlier in his final series with Baltimore.
โI just want to play my game and give what I know I can give,โ Mullins said. โA mix of things; leveraging my speed, stealing bases, dependable defense, occasionally showcasing some power, and executing bunts. A bit of everything.โ
For Helsley, Rogers, and Mullins, these marked their first professional trades.
โItโs pretty wild,โ remarked Helsley. โItโs almost like starting on the first day at a new schoolโฆeverything feels unprecedented.โ
Rogers and Buttรณ, who inked his deal with the Mets as an international free agent in 2017, are expected to debut this weekend for their respective new teams against their former sides. Both managed to fly to New York alongside their previous teams.
โBaseball certainly has its quirks, doesnโt it?โ said Rogers, who shared the trading headlines with his twin, Taylor, as they switched organizations. On the same day Rogers moved, Taylor was sent from the Cincinnati Reds to the Pittsburgh Pirates, then later traded to the Chicago Cubs.
โExperiencing a trade is unfamiliar territory, and then pitching for your new team for the first time feels odd. To then face the batter in a Giants uniform is going to be surreal.โ
The New York Mets honored Buttรณ with a tribute video prior to the commencement of Fridayโs proceedings.
โI spoke with Josรฉ today and mentioned that this timing might seem inconvenient,โ reflected Giants manager Bob Melvin. โBut after some thought, he acknowledges itโs all part of the professional realm, and heโs on track to seize an excellent opportunity here.โ