Blackburn bolsters New York’s relief mix, likely in a versatile swingman capacity, heading into the final five weeks of the season. The 31-year-old righty posted a calamitous 6.85 ERA across 23 2/3 innings (seven appearances, four starts) before being released by the Mets earlier this week.

Now that he can be had for the major league minimum, Blackburn will likely quickly be picked up by some team searching for innings. He had a 6.85 ERA in four starts and three relief appearances for the A’s, but his velocity was about as good as ever and his peripherals weren’t too much worse than usual.

Blackburn has been jettisoned from New York’s 40-man roster to pave the way for top pitching prospect Nolan McLean to ascend to the majors for Saturday’s start against the Mariners. The 31-year-old righty has been limited to just seven appearances (four starts) this season due to injury, finishing with a disastrous 6.85 ERA across 23 2/3 innings of work.

Blackburn, back from a shoulder impingement, just posted a 2.42 ERA in 22 1/3 innings over four starts for Syracuse, but the Mets are planning on sticking him in middle relief instead of giving him Frankie Montas’s rotation spot. Blackburn has a 7.71 ERA in four starts and two relief appearances in the majors this season.