DeGrom’s timetable now Sept.

The Mets’ hopes for an uncomplicated return to the rotation by Jacob deGrom were dashed Friday, when the ace right-hander was shut down from throwing due to further inflammation in his right forearm.

DeGrom, according to acting general manager Zack Scott, won’t throw for at least two weeks. He will then need to ramp up, pushing his projected return into September at the earliest.

An MRI exam confirmed there was no structural damage to deGrom’s forearm, according to Scott. The Mets had previously hoped for an early-August comeback from deGrom, who returned from the All-Star break with lingering tightness in his forearm and was placed on the injured list retroactive to July 15.

“I would expect him to pitch again this season,” Scott said on a night when the Mets lost 6-2 to the Reds at Citi Field. “But you don’t mess around with this type of thing.”

Scott said he knew about deGrom’s situation hours before the 4 p.m. trade deadline, but the information wasn’t enough to influence the team’s decisions. The Mets acquired Javier Baez and back-end starter Trevor Williams (who was subsequently optioned to Triple-A Syracuse) from the Cubs.

According to an industry source, the Mets had a choice between Zach Davies and Williams in the deal. Since both were viewed equally from a talent perspective they chose Williams because he had a minor league option remaining and could move between Syracuse and the major leagues as needed.

Why didn’t Scott pursue further pitching?

“When I looked at what was out there — let’s face it, we’re not replacing Jake,” Scott said. “I think there were only two pitchers in the entire trade market that could even come close and one of them [Max Scherzer] wasn’t coming here.

“The other was [Jose] Berrios and the Twins got a package that we couldn’t match. They just told us that. If somebody tells you there’s nothing you can offer that beats what we have, then I don’t know what you do.”

Scott said the scarcity of even midrange starting pitching and the escalated asking prices in terms of talent kept him from making headway on that front.

DeGrom had thrown a 36-pitch bullpen session on Thursday — his second light side session since originally being shut down.