Tyler Rogers and José Buttó each made one final cross-country flight with their original teams to meet up with their new ones Friday in New York.
The two relievers were exchanged for each other on Wednesday, just a day before the MLB trade deadline. Rogers traveled with his former Giants teammates from San Francisco, while Buttó made the journey with the Mets back to Queens from San Diego in anticipation of this weekend’s series against each other at Citi Field.
“It was something of a blessing because I got to bid farewell and spend time [with them] on the plane,” Rogers mentioned in the Mets’ clubhouse prior to Friday night’s 4-3 victory for the Giants. “So it really worked out well to be able to say goodbye and kind of wrap things up nicely.”
The only issue for Rogers, who has spent seven seasons with San Francisco since being drafted by them in 2013, was that he was clad in a Giants sweatsuit, having already handed over his suitcase to the team’s travel staff before their game against the Pirates on Wednesday.
“They said it was already on the plane … I was like, ‘Hey, I need to change my clothes,’ ” Rogers joked. “There were some phone calls made.”
Buttó similarly flew back with the Mets following the swap, which also sent prospects Drew Gilbert and Blade Tidwell to the Giants.
The 27-year-old reliever admitted he “definitely was surprised” and “not expecting” to be moved.
“Honestly, at first I was quite upset, of course, upon hearing the news,” Buttó shared through an interpreter before giving up an inherited runner who scored the tying run on Pete Alonso’s sac fly in the eighth. “But as time went on, you begin to adjust and come to terms with the realities of baseball as a business.”
“It was somewhat enjoyable flying back with the team. Everyone was kind of having fun with me and making the best of it. But I had already come to terms with being traded, and I’m pleased to have this opportunity here.”
Rogers’ twin brother, Taylor, was also involved in a trade, moving from the Reds to the Pirates and then to the Cubs before the deadline, and he humorously remarked, “Mom was definitely having a day, that’s for sure.”
The 34-year-old submariner posted a 1.80 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP in 53 appearances for the Giants this season.
“I’m a reliever who’s a pending free agent, so you can kind of connect some dots on a team that’s hovering around .500,” Rogers said of being traded for the first time. “I’m very excited. From looking across the dugout a week ago, [the Mets are] a team where you’re like, ‘Man, this team is the complete package.’
“Whatever they need from me, hopefully I can give it to them.”
Asked to describe Rogers as a reliever and teammate, former Mets infielder Wilmer Flores said, “They’re definitely getting a good one. Tough guy to face. They definitely got better in the bullpen. For a lot of years here, he was a piece you can trust, very reliable. He was basically available every day. We’re definitely gonna miss him. Great pickup for them.”
