Mets' strategic acquisitions at the trade deadline’s relief pitching department
The New York Mets have bolstered their struggling bullpen with the acquisition of three established relievers - Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers, and Ryan Helsley. These additions have transformed the Mets' relief corps into one of the top units in baseball, providing much-needed depth and reliability.
Ryan Helsley, a two-time All-Star and the league's leader in saves in 2024 with 49, brings elite late-inning experience to the table. Despite a 2025 season ERA of 3.00 with 21 saves, Helsley is expected to serve as a powerful setup man behind closer Edwin Díaz, providing a strong bridge to close games.
Tyler Rogers, known for his unique submarine delivery, is a dependable workhorse who induces a lot of weak contact with his sinker and slider. At 34, his consistent 1.80 ERA this season and ability to neutralize both right- and left-handed hitters adds crucial versatility to the bullpen.
Gregory Soto, a left-handed reliever acquired shortly before the others, adds important left-handed relief depth, further rounding out the revamped bullpen's balance.
The pitching styles of these new relievers differ notably from many existing Mets relievers. Here's a breakdown:
| Pitcher | Pitching Style | Role / Strengths | Contrast with Existing Relievers | |-------------------|------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------| | Ryan Helsley | Power right-hander, closer/setup | High-velocity, experience in save situations | Adds late-inning firepower behind Díaz | | Tyler Rogers | Submarine-style lefty/righty (low arm slot) | Induces weak contact, sinking fastballs, sliders | Unique delivery and contact-inducing vs more conventional arms | | Gregory Soto | Left-handed reliever | Adds lefty depth, useful for matchup leverage | Balances bullpen handedness | | Previous Mets relievers | Mix of conventional overhand arms | Some inconsistency and less depth pre-trades | Less varied arm slots, less reliable overall |
With these acquisitions, the Mets bullpen now boasts Edwin Díaz, Rogers, Helsley, Soto, and a deeper pool of relievers. This gives Mets manager Carlos Mendoza the flexibility to be aggressive with bullpen usage even when starters like Kodai Senga struggle early.
Ryne Stanek, a member of the Mets, has noted the variety in the bullpen, stating that the Mets now have the ability to match up early on with two lefties in their bullpen. The specific roles for the new relievers in the Mets' bullpen have not been specified as of yet.
These trades have brought experienced, reliable late-inning weapons with complementary pitching styles—including a rare submarine delivery and enhanced lefty/righty balance—elevating the Mets bullpen from a weakness to one of its strengths.
[1] MLB.com [2] New York Post [3] ESPN [4] Baseball Reference [5] Sports Illustrated
The addition of Ryan Helsley, known for his high-velocity pitches and experience in save situations, significantly bolsters the New York Mets' bullpen, providing a strong late-inning presence to complement closer Edwin Díaz.
Tyler Rogers, with his unique submarine-style delivery and ability to induce weak contact, adds crucial versatility to the Mets bullpen, offering effective relief against both right- and left-handed hitters.
