How Mets are handling Clay Holmes with future up in air

Clay Holmes is preparing as if he will pitch Sunday. Less clear is which team — or maybe which affiliate — he will pitch for.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.The Mets right-hander threw a side session at Citi Field on Friday and appeared to come through it OK.

Interim manager Andy Green said the pitcher and team would huddle to determine the next step, but that Holmes was throwing with the “intent” to pitch Sunday. The Mets are hosting the Marlins on Sunday, which is one day before the trade deadline.On Friday, the Mets were not willing to risk the health of Freddy Peralta, who was scratched from his expected start to ensure he will be healthy and valuable for a trade partner. It is possible the Mets take the same tack with Holmes, who is expected to be shopped but is not quite the trade certainty that Peralta is, given his health and given that he theoretically could be extended or given a qualifying offer.

Still, Holmes likely will be pitching for another team by the deadline. “Obviously things change really quick at this time of the year with everything that’s spinning,” Green said before losing, 5-2, to the Marlins, “and that could possibly change, but [pitching Sunday] is his intent and that’s what he’s headed towards.” The 33-year-old has made two rehab starts and built up to 59 pitches over four innings as he returns from a fractured fibula.It is possible he makes a third rehab start — which would draw plenty of scouts from interested clubs — though that did not sound likely. “He certainly wants to be back in the big leagues as quickly as possible, and I think everybody in the organization respects that and appreciates that,” said Green, whose club has listed Zac Thornton as its expected starter Saturday and TBA for Sunday. Lefty Cionel Pérez, who has pitched well and allowed two runs in his past 8 ²/₃ innings,...