SAN DIEGO — With one day still to go before the trade deadline, there is time for David Stearns to attempt to add maybe a center fielder and perhaps a starter. 

The Mets president of baseball operations did not wait, though, to form what he hopes will be a super bullpen, instantly transforming a shaky group into what looks to be the team’s greatest strength. 

If the Mets do not out-slug opponents in October, they will hope to outlast them with a group of relievers that projects to be as strong as any after a busy Wednesday. 

Stearns pushed plenty, but not nearly all, of his chips in to add a pair of very different righties — flamethrower Ryan Helsley from the Cardinals and submariner Tyler Rogers from the Giants — just a few days after bringing in another hard thrower in Gregory Soto. 

The late innings — and the middle innings for that matter, especially considering the rotation’s struggles to pitch deep into games — might be locked down with a deep unit filled with dominant stuff and different looks. 

The prospect cost was significant for the depth of the farm system but not the top of the farm system, losing their Nos. 8, 10, 12 and 16 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, along with one unranked and major league reliever José Buttó. 

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Ryan Helsley (56) reacts after the Cardinals defeated the San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium. Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

“We got better as a team,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after a 5-0 loss at Petco Park, where the Mets were silenced by a filthy bullpen they want to emulate. 

Helsley, an impending free agent, is a two-time All-Star with a 3.00 ERA and a 100 mph fastball. He led the majors in saves last season, when he was so overwhelming he finished ninth in NL Cy Young Award voting. 

Rogers, also a free agent at season’s end, nearly scrapes his right hand on the mound when he pitches. The unique angle has proven difficult to hit — he owns a 1.80 ERA this season and 2.79 mark for his career — and might help his durability. 

With the slowest fastball in MLB (averaging 83.3 mph), Rogers leads the majors in games pitched (53) and led the majors in the category a season ago (77). Against an arm angle rarely seen in today’s game, neither lefties nor righties have hit the 34-year-old well. 

Tyler Rogers of the San Francisco Giants pitches in the top of the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Oracle Park on July 26, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images

The Mets can envision a group of Edwin Díaz, Helsley, Rogers, Soto, Brooks Raley, Reed Garrett and Ryne Stanek — and perhaps a fresher Huascar Brazobán — overwhelming opponents in the postseason. 

“I might be throwing the fourth inning now,” said Stanek, which would be a scary thought for opposing offenses. 

Gone are infielder Jesus Baez (the top-rated prospect lost but a 20-year-old who is at least several years away), righty Nate Dohm (a 2024 third-round pick having a strong season with High-A Brooklyn) and righty Frank Ellisalt (a 2024 19th-round pick who has impressed mostly with Low-A St. Lucie), who were packaged for Helsley.

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Gone are outfielder Drew Gilbert (who was having a nice, if not excellent, season with Triple-A Syracuse), righty Blade Tidwell (who debuted this season and flashed good raw stuff in four games) and Buttó(who hugged teammates as news spread during the early innings of Wednesday’s game), who were sent to the Giants. They represent losses to the system but from its depth.

Gilbert likely was behind Carson Benge and Jett Williams among the prospects who could grow into major league center fielders; Tidwell was slotted behind at least Brandon Sproat, Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong and might not have survived the offseason on the 40-man roster; Buttó, who was out of minor league options, might not have survived on the 26-man roster considering the upgrades. 

The Mets bullpen was the game’s best through April, when arms such as A.J. Minter, Danny Young and Max Kranick powered the group. That trio — along with 2024 revelation Dedniel Núñez — are gone for the season with elbow surgeries. 

Ryan Helsley of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning at Busch Stadium on July 13, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. Getty Images

The Mets have suffered since and entered play Wednesday with a 4.87 bullpen ERA since June that was the sixth worst in the majors. 

An electric arm like Helsley’s can help. 

A funky arm like Rogers’ can help. 

“Not easy. It’s tough to track,” Francisco Lindor said of Rogers, against whom he is 1-for-5. “I think he’s going to help us.” 

Whether the Mets are truly Going For It can be better measured at Thursday’s deadline, when Stearns can seek additional help. Without question, though, they are Going For a super bullpen.