VARGAS SICK

Healing after hand surgery, Met lefty lands in hospital with stomach virus

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Being a Met hasn’t exactly been easy on Jason Vargas. The veteran lefty suffered a fractured hand and had surgery in the first month of his two-year deal with the Mets. Friday, three days after surgery, he was taken to a local emergency room with a stomach issue, Mickey Callaway said.

“He got a little stomach virus, so he’s at the emergency room right now taking care of that,” the Mets manager said. Vargas was scheduled to meet with a hand specialist Friday to determine how long it would be before he can start a regular-season game. “I am not sure if that got in the way. He’s doing OK, he played catch the last couple days.”

Ironically, the Mets signed Vargas to a two-year $16 million deal last month as insurance for their injuryplagued rotation.

WHEELS DOWN?

After not being able to go beyond two innings on Thursday night, the Mets are leaning toward sending Zack Wheeler to the minor leagues, according to two team sources.

“He’s made some significant changes to his delivery,” one Mets source said Friday, “He needs to work that out. It would be easier for him to do it in Triple-A than try and do it while learning to pitch out of the bullpen.

“Right now, all options are on the table with him,” the source continued, “but I think giving him more time in the minors makes the most sense.”

It is not something that Wheeler will welcome. “I think I can hold my own up there,” Wheeler said Friday morning when asked about the possibility of pitching in the minors again. “I think I’d be OK.”

After missing two years to rehab after March 2015 Tommy John surgery, Wheeler struggled with arm weakness and a bone stress reaction in his biceps midway through the 2017 season.

MONTERO SURGERY

Rafael Montero said it was one pitch. The right-hander felt something “different” in his elbow after one pitch on Tuesday, which he now assumes was his ulnar collateral ligament tearing.

The 27-year-old one-time top prospect said he will have Tommy John surgery but has not determined when.

Montero was struggling in his battle to make the roster this spring. He allowed nine earned runs in nine innings work this spring.

Montero is out of options and the Mets would have to put him through waivers if they decided not to carry him on the major league roster.

PLATOON CATCHES ON

The Mets are happy with the platoon of Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki, but they are taking out insurance. They are expected to pay Jose Lobaton a retention bonus by noon Saturday to keep the veteran catcher on their Triple-A team.

ROBLES CUT

Hansel Robles, the mercurial righthander, will not get a spot in the bullpen to start the season. He was optioned to minor league camp. He had allowed 12 earned runs in 11.2 innings this spring . ... The Mets also sent catching prospect Tomas Nido to minor league camp.

HARVEY VS. DEGROM

The Mets will have Jacob deGrom pitch against Matt Harvey in Monday’s scrimmage. The team will scrimmage with minor leaguers and then head back to New York.

The scrimmage is open to the public with the $5 ticket fee going to the American Cancer Society.