Though there’s never a ‘right’ time to find out that you’re being traded, it’s fair to say that being told mid-game is fairly brutal.
Well, that was the reality for New York Mets pitcher Jose Butto, who discovered that he’d be heading to the Giants midway through their game on Wednesday afternoon.
As the Mets took on the San Diego Padres, news broke that Butto – along with Blade Tidwell and Drew Gilbert – would be used to complete a trade deal for Tyler Rogers.
As the news spread, broadcast cameras caught Butto’s emotional reaction, as he appeared to fight back tears while watching on from the bullpen.
Footage showed Butto deep in thought as he sat on the bench, before ducking his head and then lifting it again to seemingly wipe away his tears.
Butto – who signed with the team as a 19-year-old back in 2017 before waiting five years to make his MLB debut – was then seen leaving the bullpen and putting his hands on his head as he processed the news.
New York Mets’ Jose Butto discovered that he was getting traded mid-game on Wednesday
Butto – who joined the Mets at 19 – appeared distraught as he walked off in disbelief
The Venezuelan was consoled by teammates in the Mets dugout shortly afterwards
Butto was then spotted in the Mets dugout, receiving hugs from a number of his teammates as he said goodbye to them.
It didn’t take long for social media users to lament the Mets’ decision to announce the trade mid-game, with Butto an easy target for broadcast cameras.
Taking to X, one fan wrote: ‘Disturbing to see a player traded on live tv. Everyone on the team has to be affected by this.
‘This DID NOT belong on live tv or social media platforms right now. For me, right now, the Mets are a terrible team all the way around. Totally classless from a team that’s going downhill. Shameful’.
Another said: ‘Sucks when we trade guys who want to be here. Most could care less but this guy, he wants to be a Met’.
The 27-year-old, across 37 games as a starter and a reliever in 2024, posted a 7-3 record, a 2.55 ERA, and 79 strikeouts across 74 innings pitched.
Meanwhile, Tidwell has also been with the Mets since turning pro. He was drafted back in 2022 and boasts a 4.10 ERA in 17 appearances for Triple-A Syracuse.
The final player being traded by the Mets, Gilbert, has been with the franchise for two years. He initially got off to a hot start – with a .984 OPS in Double-A to finish the 2023 season – but has since struggled after picking up a hamstring injury.
