Clay Holmes near returning to mound but still weeks from Mets return

TORONTO — Clay Holmes is progressing to a mound in his rehab, but still weeks away from rejoining the Mets.

The right-hander will throw a bullpen session this week, according to interim manager Andy Green, in his rehab from a broken right fibula.

“I would love to say he’s ahead of schedule, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself and make that declaration,” Green said before the Mets beat the Blue Jays 3-0 on Tuesday at Rogers Centre. “But it’s going well and we’re encouraged by that.”

Holmes, who can opt out of his contract after this season, is among the pitchers the Mets could like to deal before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

Holmes was the Mets’ most effective starter before his injury, pitching to a 2.39 ERA in eight starts.

Luis Robert Jr. began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse, where he joined rehabbing Jorge Polanco.

Green was asked what the Mets lineup could become with Robert and Polanco as options. Both players have been sidelined since April.

“In Robert’s case it’s a right-handed bat that we have missed pretty obviously against left-handed pitching,” Green said. “It would be great to have Polanco — he really rounds out a lineup with an ability to hit from both sides, so the lineup gets lengthened.

“I think some of the at-bats we have had late in games, when you have those guys you have more options, even if they are on the bench on a given day you have got more choices that work really well and I think it’s just a longer, more diverse lineup.”

Though A.J. Ewing has taken grounders, Green downplayed the idea the rookie could shift to the infield following Robert’s return.

“You are talking about somebody adjusting to the big leagues and being locked in out in center field right now, which is where he’s been,” Green said.

The Mets signed outfielder Christopher Morel to a minor league contract, according to an industry source.

Morel, 27, had a .425 OPS in 22 games with the Marlins this season.