The Mets are moving Frankie Montas to the bullpen, potentially paving the way for Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat to debut this weekend.

The Mets have not determined Montas’ replacement, but top prospects Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat are “definitely in the conversation” to start Saturday against the Seattle Mariners, Mendoza said.

The Mets promoted 22-year-old stud pitching prospect Jonah Tong to Syracuse on Sunday — after he dominated at Double-A Binghamton with a 1.59 ERA over 20 starts — but the expectation within the organization is the right-hander won’t be a candidate to pitch in the major leagues this season.

So on Tuesday, when manager Carlos Mendoza announced Montas was moving to the bullpen, it was far from a surprise (though objectively disappointing, considering the righthander signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the Mets in the offseason).

Losers of seven straight, the struggling Mets are hopeful either Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat can provide a rotation boost.

Frankie Montas, who suffered a strained right lat in spring training and has been ineffective since returning to action, is expected to be available in the Mets' bullpen starting Thursday.

Indeed, Montas heads to the bullpen having amassed a 6.38 ERA (62 ERA+) and a 2.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His contributions have been safely below replacement level, according to Baseball Reference.

Frankie Montas has not been considered a reliever since he was an Oakland Athletics rookie in 2017. Yet that's what New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza declared on Tuesday that Montas will be for the rest of this season.