Newcomers Helsley, Rogers and Mullins join Mets in the thick of a pennant race

NEW YORK (AP) — Pitchers Ryan Helsley and Tyler Rogers and outfielder Cedric Mullins jumped into a pennant race Friday when they joined the National League-East leading New York Mets in search of the franchise’s first championship since 1986.

“Everybody’s very excited — they’re matching my excitement to be here,” Rogers said before the Mets opened a three-game series against San Francisco.

The Giants traded Rogers to New York for José Buttó and a pair of prospects Wednesday.

The Mets, who fell to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in last year’s NLCS, entered Friday with a half-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies.

“From looking across the dugout a week ago, this is a team where you’re like, man, this team is the complete package,” Rogers said as the teams met for the second straight weekend. “So I’m very excited to be a part of it. Whatever they need from me, hopefully I can give it to them.”

Helsley, who had 21 saves for the St. Louis Cardinals before being acquired for a trio of prospects Wednesday, and Rogers, a side-armer whose 392 appearances since 2019 are tied for the fourth-most in the majors, are expected to fortify a bullpen that was beginning to show vulnerability ahead of All-Star closer Edwin Díaz.

“At first I was kind of surprised, honestly, having Díaz here,” Helsley said. “But in the playoffs, you’ll take as many good arms as you can get.”

Helsley said he was looking forward to serving as a set-up man for the Mets, whose bullpen ERA of 3.80 ranks 11th in the majors. New York made 36 transactions last month involving 18 relievers, including left-hander Gregory Soto, who was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on July 25.

“If I need to throw the sixth, seventh, eighth — whenever it’s going to be, I’m glad to do so,” Helsley said.

Mullins, who was acquired from the Orioles on Thursday for three pitching prospects, didn’t start Friday’s game after arriving at Citi Field less than three hours before first pitch. He is expected to become the starter in center field, where the slumping Tyrone Taylor and converted infielder Jeff McNeil have been splitting time while Jose Siri recovers from a broken leg.

Mullins, who won the Silver Slugger with the Orioles after going 30/30 in 2021, robbed the Toronto Blue Jays of a pair of homers during his final series with Baltimore earlier this week.

“I’m just trying to be myself and bring the type of game I know I can bring,” Mullins said. “Bunch of different stuff — using my legs, running, stealing bases, playing solid defense, showing a little bit of power here and there, bunts. Just a little bit of everything.”

The trades were the first as professionals for Helsley, Rogers and Mullins.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Helsley said. “I probably equate it to like the first day of school ... where everything’s so new.”

Rogers and Buttó, who signed with the Mets as an international free agent in 2017, are likely to make their debuts this weekend for their new clubs against their old ones. Both players flew to New York with their former teams.

“Baseball’s funny that way, isn’t it?” said Rogers, who was traded the same day his twin, Taylor, was sent from the Cincinnati Reds to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Taylor Rogers was dealt to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

“Being traded is new and then to go out there and pitch for a new team for the first time ever is going to be weird. And then to look up and see the Giants uniform in the batter’s box is going to be something.”

New York aired a tribute video to Butto before the first pitch of Friday's game.

“I was talking to José today, I said the timing of this might not be the greatest thing in the world,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “But I think a day removed from it, I think he understands it’s a business as well and he knows he’s going to get a very good opportunity here.”

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Baltimore Orioles' Cedric Mullins hits a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Monday, July 28, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Rogers (71) delivers in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A judge made no immediate decision Wednesday on Minnesota's request to suspend the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in the state, where federal agents have yanked people from cars and confronted angry bystanders demanding they pack up and leave.

Plumes of tear gas, the deployment of chemical irritants and the screech of protest whistles have become common on the streets of Minneapolis, especially since an immigration agent fatally shot Renee Good in the head on Jan. 7 as she drove away.

“What we need most of all right now is a pause. The temperature needs to be lowered," state Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter said during the first hearing in a lawsuit filed by Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez promised to keep the case “on the front burner” and gave the U.S. Justice Department until Monday to file a response to the request for a restraining order. Local leaders say the government is violating free speech and other constitutional rights with the surge of law enforcement.

Menendez said the state and cities will have a few more days to respond.

“It is simply recognition that these are grave and important matters,” the judge said of the timetable, noting there are few legal precedents to apply to some of the key points in the case.

Justice Department attorney Andrew Warden suggested the slower approach set by Menendez was appropriate.

The judge is also handling a separate lawsuit challenging the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal officers when encountering protesters and observers. A decision could be released this week.

The Department of Homeland Security says it has made more than 2,000 arrests in the state since early December and is vowing to not back down. The Pentagon is preparing to send military lawyers to Minneapolis to assist, CNN reported.

“What we see right now is discrimination taking place only on the basis of race: Are you Latino or are you Somali? And then it is indiscriminate thereafter,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told Fox News. “In other words, they are pulling people off the streets. They have pulled U.S. citizens off the streets and you don’t need to take my word for it at this point. This has been very well documented."

The president of Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota said four tribal members were detained while at a homeless camp in Minnesota last week. Three remained in custody late Tuesday.

“Enrolled tribal members are citizens of the United States by statute and citizens of the Oglala Sioux Nation by treaty,” said tribe President Frank Star Comes Out, who demanded their release.

Associated Press reporters Ed White in Detroit and Graham Lee Brewer in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, contributed.

Federal officers stand guard after detaining people outside of Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

People visits a makeshift memorial for Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A person is detained by federal agents near the scene where Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)