
NEW YORK — A couple of new faces occupied the Mets’ clubhouse on Friday.
After an exciting trade deadline on Thursday, newcomers Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley arrived in Queens with their egos aside and a championship mission in mind.
Before arriving in New York, Helsley was the St. Louis Cardinals closer — and he was good at it. With the Mets, he’s willing to step away from that role to help assemble one of the scariest bullpens in baseball.
“I told (Mets manager Carlos Mendoza) I’ll be ready to pitch whenever he wants me to,” Helsley told reporters on Friday. “And you know, (Edwin Díaz’s) got the ninth, and he’s one of the best closers in the game. He’s been one of the best for seven years, so he definitely deserves that role. And you know, if I need to throw the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and I would be glad to do so.”
Helsley is a two-time All-Star who led the league in saves (49) last season.
In 257 career appearances, he has a 2.67 ERA with 355 strikeouts in 299 2/3 innings. He’s received down-ballot National League Cy Young Award votes in two separate seasons in his career.
“In talking to Helsley, he’s willing to pitch in any situation,” Mendoza echoed Helsley’s sentiments.
Rogers is a durable reliever with a submarine delivery. He holds a 1.80 ERA, fifth-lowest among in the National League (minimum 40 innings), with a 0.86 WHIP in an MLB-leading 53 appearances this season.
He’s led the league in appearances three separate times in his career, while boasting a career 2.79 ERA.
“(I’m) someone who loves to pitch,” Rogers said. “I love to try and be available every day.”
With a revamped bullpen, Mets starters have some pressure taken off. Once considered the team’s set-up man, right-hander Reed Garrett, who has a 2.70 ERA in 45 appearances this season, figures to be the team’s fifth or sixth inning guy.