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 dealt for each other Wednesday, one day before the MLB trade deadline. Rogers accompanied his now-former teammates from San Francisco, while Buttó traveled with the Mets back to Queens from San Diego ahead of this weekend’s series between the clubs at Citi Field.
“It was kind of a blessing because I got to say goodbye and do stuff [with them] on the plane,” Rogers said in the Mets’ clubhouse before a 4-3 Giants victory Friday night. “So it actually worked out great to be able to say goodbye and kind of put a bow on it.”
The only problem for Rogers, who has played seven seasons for San Francisco after originally being drafted by the organization in 2013, was that he was wearing a Giants sweatsuit because he had already handed over his suitcase to the team’s travel crew before Wednesday’s game against the Pirates.
“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.
“I’m not gonna lie to you, at first I was very sad, of course, hearing the news,” Buttó said through an interpreter before allowing an inherited runner to score the tying run on Pete Alonso’s sac fly in the eighth. “But as the hours went by … you start getting used to it and accepting the fate of what the business of baseball is.”
“It was kind of fun to fly back with the team. Everybody was kind of just having fun with me and having a great time. But I had already accepted that I was traded, and I’m happy to be here and to be getting the opportunity.”
Rogers’ twin brother, Taylor, also was traded from the Reds to the Pirates to the Cubs before the deadline, and he joked, “Mom was 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.”
