Carlos Mendoza on Mets' trade for Tyler Rogers: 'We got better as a team'

The Mets may have dropped Wednesday's game to the Padres, but the talk was of the newest acquisition to the bullpen, Tyler Rogers.

New York traded for the Giants reliever earlier in the day, adding an impactful arm to a relief corps that needed it.

"I like it, we got better as a team," manager Carlos Mendoza said of the trade after the game. "We just faced him the other day, he’s pretty tough on righties and lefties. Gives you a different look, a guy that throws strikes and is pretty durable. He’s been healthy and takes the ball. Again, we got better."

Last weekend, Rogers allowed just one hit and struck out two batters in his two innings of work against the Mets, and the players haven't forgotten going up against the submariner.

"He’s a good arm. Faced him many times. He’s gotten me out many times," Francisco Lindor said of Rogers. "From what I heard around the league, he’s a good guy, good person and someone who is going to pitch in big situations. It’s something that is going to help us."

"He’s got good pitches," Francisco Alvarez said. "He’s a good pitcher, thank God he’s now on our side and we don’t have to face him anymore."

Although the Mets are gaining a reliever, they lose one as well. Jose Butto was part of a package sent to the Giants for Rogers. The young right-hander found out about the deal during the game and was able to say his goodbyes to his teammates. When asked about Butto's contributions to the team, Mendoza had nothing but a glowing review.

"It’s a tough one there, especially going down like that in the middle of the game," Mendoza said. "Nothing but great things to say about him. His ability to take the ball, we used him in a lot of different roles. Great teammate, great human. We’re going to miss him. It’s a business, we all understand that. He’s going to help that team, too. He’s getting a great opportunity here and I’m pretty sure he’s going to impact that team as well."

Rogers was just the first name that David Stearns will add to the Mets' bullpen. A few hours later, Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley was acquired, giving the Mets a power-packed bullpen for a postseason run. Rogers and Helsley join a bullpen that already had Edwin Diaz, Ryne Stanek, Gregory Soto, Reed Garrett and Brooks Raley.

Mendoza raved about how Rogers benefits his bullpen and gives him more flexibility every day.

"When we’re facing some of the best teams with elite bullpens, they have a lot of different looks. This adds to it," he said. "You have two lefties with different pitch mix, a lot of righties and now you talk about a guy who throws from that angle, who can get either hand out. It allows me to have more flexibility, matchup, be more aggressive when I need to. It makes our unit a lot deeper back there."

After an off day on Thursday, the Mets will activate Rogers when they host, ironically enough, the Giants for a three-game set.

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