Craig Kimbrel will ‘stay ready’ for Mets despite Opening Day disappointment

PORT ST. LUCIE — For now, Craig Kimbrel is choosing Mets purgatory.

The 37-year-old, longtime shutdown reliever, who was informed Sunday that he will not be on the Opening Day roster, will remain in the organization and stay in Florida in hopes that his stuff will improve and a spot on the club will open.

Kimbrel could have exercised an opt-out from his contract. If a major league opportunity arises with another team, he would be free to pursue it.

But the plan for the time being is for Kimbrel to continue throwing, try to build his velocity and “stay ready” if the Mets need him, he said.

“My goal was to make the Opening Day roster. I am a little disappointed in that, but that is all on me and what I showed this spring so far,” Kimbrel said Monday at the team’s spring facility. “It really came down to roster moves and how they wanted to construct it. … It was going to be a tough job to get onto this team. A lot of great arms and just so many spots.”

Kimbrel was competing for the final spot in the bullpen, which will go to lefties Bryan Hudson or Richard Lovelady (or a reliever who shakes loose from another camp).