Drew Gilbert’s surge raises questions about Mets’ deadline trade for Tyler Rogers
Outfielder acquired by Giants as part of deadline package has ignited San Francisco’s sudden playoff push while Mets weigh short-term bullpen gain against long-term cost
The New York Mets’ decision to include outfield prospect Drew Gilbert in the July trade that brought reliever Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants has taken on new scrutiny as Gilbert has become a catalyst in the Giants’ late-season surge.
The Mets sent right-hander José Buttó, pitching prospect Blade Tidwell and Gilbert to San Francisco in exchange for Rogers. New York Post columnist Jon Heyman described the Mets’ willingness to give up those players as "a heavy price" to bolster a bullpen ahead of a playoff push. Rogers has performed well in Queens but is scheduled to reach free agency at season’s end, leaving the long-term value of the deal uncertain.
Gilbert, 24, began his major-league stint with San Francisco in uneven fashion, going 3-for-31 with 10 strikeouts and one extra-base hit early in his career. Over the last six games, though, he has been markedly better at the plate, going 10-for-19 with no strikeouts and six extra-base hits. Those timely hits have helped lift a Giants club that had been written off after falling seven games under .500 on Aug. 22 and selling at the trade deadline.
San Francisco’s revival has shifted attention to the package the Mets surrendered for Rogers. The right-handed reliever has provided stability out of the bullpen for New York, but his impending free agency means the Mets obtained a short-term upgrade at the cost of multiple young pieces. Gilbert’s recent production has intensified debate about whether the Mets overpaid for immediate relief help.
Front-office decisions at the trade deadline often hinge on balancing present needs with future depth. In this instance, the Mets prioritized bullpen reinforcement as they chased postseason positioning, while the Giants took a longer view by acquiring prospects with upside. Gilbert’s performance has validated San Francisco’s approach and provided a boost to a roster that had been expected to compete less aggressively after the deadline.
Giants manager and executives have pointed to young players stepping up as reasons for the club’s turnaround, and Gilbert’s emergence has been part of that narrative. His recent streak has included extra-base power and contact improvements that contrast sharply with his initial adjustment period at the big-league level.
For the Mets, the trade’s aftermath now carries both immediate and reputational ramifications. Rogers’ contributions have been meaningful, but the club faces the prospect of losing him after the season unless it can re-sign him. Meanwhile, Gilbert’s rise in San Francisco will likely be cited by critics who question whether New York gave up too much long-term talent for a bullpen piece with no contractual control beyond the current year.
General managers and analysts typically assess trades across timelines rather than on a single result. If the Mets advance deep into the postseason this year, the short-term gain could be judged worth the cost. If the club falls short and Gilbert continues to develop into a regular contributor for the Giants, the deal will be reexamined through a different lens.
The situation underscores how rapidly assessments of deadline transactions can change as young players adjust to the majors. Gilbert’s turnaround is a reminder that prospects can be volatile, and that the immediate calendar — playoff window versus long-term rebuilding — often drives trade decisions.
As the regular season progresses toward October, the Mets will weigh whether short-term bullpen improvement delivered by Rogers justifies the price paid in prospects. For the Giants, Gilbert’s hot streak is a timely development that has helped push a previously beleaguered team back into playoff conversation and softened criticism of their own offseason and in-season moves.
Evaluations of the trade will continue to evolve as both teams’ seasons conclude. For now, Gilbert’s sudden production provides a tangible example of how prospect performance can immediately affect perceptions of deadline deals and influence narratives around competing clubs’ strategies.