What was supposed to be a modest bullpen upgrade has now become a flashpoint for growing tensions in Queens. With the Mets clinging to playoff hopes and still battling inconsistency, fans expected targeted reinforcements, not a full-scale raid of their farm system
Grabbing Tyler Rogers just cost the New York Mets a high-upside starter, their top outfield prospect, and one of the better arms in their system. In a deadline deal that stunned the fans, the Mets sent José Butto, Drew Gilbert, and Blade Tidwell to the Giants, all for one bullpen arm.
“And the Mets paid a very hefty price for Tyler Rogers: right-hander José Butto, outfield prospect Drew Gilbert, and right-handed pitching prospect Blade Tidwell are headed to San Francisco, a source said…” MLB insider Jeff Passan wrote on X.
And the Mets paid a very hefty price for Tyler Rogers: right-hander José Butto, outfield prospect Drew Gilbert and right-handed pitching prospect Blade Tidwell are headed to San Francisco, a source said. @Joelsherman1 had the full return.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2025
Well, let’s be clear. Rogers is durable, deceptive and has carved out a niche in the National League with his sinkers. But he’s not the type of arm you’d expect to cost three legitimate assets, including a top-100 prospect like Gilbert.
This trade feels like more than just a miscalculation. David Stearns, the president of baseball operations who once urged patience and long-term building, just flipped a chunk of the Mets’ future for short-term relief. It’s a risky but clear bet on the postseason, even though the numbers may not fully support it.
Meanwhile, the Giants are set to make changes that could have a lasting impact on their organization for the next five years. Gilbert brings star potential to center field, while Tidwell adds velocity and strikeout upside. So, for San Francisco, this was surgical. For the Mets, not quite.
Unless Rogers turns into a shutdown postseason weapon, this deal won’t be remembered as bold; it’ll be remembered as shortsighted.
Mets fans sound the alarm
When the dust settled over the Rogers trade, one sentiment echoed loudest across social media: “We got fleeced.” Stearns probably misunderstood the pulse of Mets fans. Within minutes of the trade details hitting the internet, social media turned into a firestorm. And it wasn’t usual deadline grumbling; it was full-blown outrage.
“That’s a lot to give up for a guy that will be a free agent after this season. Sheesh. IMO Gilbert should have only be included in a deal for a big-time star with a couple years of team control,” wrote another fan. Well, since Rogers becomes a free agent at the end of the season, this trade is leaning towards a short-term fix rather than a permanent solution. And that’s why the fans’ frustration is kicking in.
Drew Gilbert wasn’t just another prospect; he was the kind of centerpiece you’d expect to headline a trade for a controllable, All-Star-level player. Instead, he’s been shipped off in a package for a mid reliever who might not be around after October. The optics aren’t just bad, they’re baffling. Fans expected Gilbert to be part of the future, not a footnote in a short-term bullpen fix.
That’s a lot to give up for a guy that will be a free agent after this season. Sheesh. IMO Gilbert should have only be included in a deal for a big time star with a couple years of team control.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) July 30, 2025
“One of the most egregious overpays I have ever seen. Posey FLEECED them bad ,” another fan chimed in. The fans are in sheer disbelief that three promising arms were dealt for a reliever who doesn’t crack elite status. And the kicker? Giants president Buster Posey, just a couple of years into his front office role, came out looking like a seasoned dealmaker. While New York emptied the pantry, San Francisco walked away grinning, and fans can’t help but feel like they just got hustled in broad daylight.
“Mets are down bad,” one more X user commented. Trading tomorrow’s promise for today’s hope might make sense for a contender on the brink, but the Mets aren’t there, not yet. Another fan echoed the same sentiments: “All that for a rental? Starting to feel like the Baez trade ” It’s hard not to get flashbacks. For many Mets fans, the Javier Báez trade in 2021 still stings. Back then, New York gave up top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong for a short-lived rental who shone for some time, then walked in free agency. Now, with Drew Gilbert headlining this deal for Tyler Rogers, another short-term piece, the parallels are hard to ignore. It’s déjà vu with a different jersey. With Rogers set to hit free agency this winter, the fear is familiar.
Now, the pressure’s on Rogers. He has to be clutch. If not, this deadline might haunt Queens long after October fades.
The post “We Got Fleeced” – Mets Fans Lash Out at David Stearns as Tyler Rogers Trade Sends Jose Butto & Others Packing appeared first on EssentiallySports.