After trading for Gregory Soto last Friday, it seemed only a matter of time before David Stearns struck once again. This time, he struck twice, acquiring 34-year-old submariner Tyler Rogers from the Giants and 31-year-old fireballer Ryan Helsley from the Cardinals within a matter of hours on Wednesday evening. The Mets wanted to upgrade their relief pitching, and now they brandish the most formidable bullpen in baseball — a corps which Rogers will play an integral role within.
Rogers has been one
of baseball’s most consistent relievers for years. Since 2021, Rogers has appeared in the most games (346) of any MLB pitcher while recording a 2.74 ERA. During that span, only two other relievers have appeared in at least 300 games with an ERA of 3.00 or below: Raisel Iglesias, who is struggling with the Braves, and Emmanuel Clase, who is currently the subject of a gambling investigation. In 2025, Rogers has been putting together arguably his best season yet, boasting a 1.80 ERA in 50.0 IP with the Giants prior to the trade.
Much like his unconventional delivery, Rogers’ path to the majors was an uphill climb. He was drafted by the Giants in the tenth round of the 2013 Draft as a 23-year-old out of Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, where he had transferred from Garden City Community College in Kansas. Rogers clawed his way through the minor leagues, making his major league debut at 28 years old in August 2019 and instantly impressing to the tune of a 1.02 ERA in 17.2 IP.
Despite his sustained success, the submarine pitcher has managed to go relatively under-the-radar, earning no All-Star selections or major awards. This is partially due to the fact that Rogers isn’t a closer, only racking up 19 career saves and serving as a bridge to Camilo Doval for much of his time with the Giants. Only three times since the MLB Reliever of the Year Awards were created in 2014 has a recipient held fewer than 15 saves. It’s also partially a product of Rogers’ approach, as his effectiveness stems from an ability to induce soft contact rather than generate swings-and-misses. Rogers’ 1.6 Barrels/PA% ranks first in MLB, narrowly beating Edwin Díaz’s 1.8%. But unlike Díaz, Rogers holds an exceptional 0.7 BB/9 rate—the best of any reliever in baseball. Rogers’ control comes as a godsend to a Mets bullpen which has the fifth-highest BB/9 rate (3.92) of any team since June 1.
Rogers’ arm angle also complements that of his new teammate. At -60 degrees, Rogers’ arm slot is by far the lowest of any right-handed pitcher, while Helsley’s 63-degree angle is the fourth-highest. Between the two of them sits Díaz, who has a 23-degree delivery. When the Mets roll out Helsley, Rogers, and Díaz in the same game, they won’t just be utilizing three of the best relief arms in baseball; they’ll be attacking hitters from three completely different arm angles. It’s a terrifying outlook for opposing offenses, and the trio now ranks as one of the primary reasons why the Mets could advance far this October.
Rogers is set to be a free agent for the first time in his career at the conclusion of the 2025 season, as is his new teammate Helsley. The Mets could be in the market for bullpen help once again this offseason, as Díaz is expected to exercise an opt-out in his contract. Depending on how Rogers’ tenure in Flushing plays out over the coming months, it’s possible the Mets look to re-sign him for multiple years to come, as his lack of reliance on velocity should be a plus while he battles the aging curve.
Rogers will join the Mets this weekend as they take on the Giants at Citi Field, meaning his debut in orange and blue will likely come against former teammates. The first game in the three-game set against San Francisco is scheduled for Friday at 7:10 PM.
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