MLB

Isringhausen may land Mets’ eighth-inning job

PORT ST. LUCIE — Jason Isringhausen is long removed from Generation K, but could soon be heralded as an Eighth Wonder.

The 38-year-old right-hander has wowed the Mets so much in his comeback from Tommy John surgery that Bobby Parnell might be bumped from the bullpen’s primary setup role and replaced by Isringhausen, pitching coach Dan Warthen told The Post yesterday.

“We’ve actually talked about [Isringhausen] being that to start the season, to see if he is an eighth-inning guy, and let Bobby move his way into it a little bit,” Warthen said before a split squad of Mets beat the Nationals 7-4 in a Grapefruit League game.

Isringhausen, who earned an invite to camp only after auditioning for special adviser J.P. Ricciardi last month, has impressed the Mets by posting a 1.50 ERA in six relief appearances this spring. Isringhausen last pitched for a major league team in 2009, when he made nine relief appearances for the Rays before blowing out his elbow.

The Mets are cautiously optimistic Isringhausen’s elbow can remain healthy. His fastball has peaked in the low 90s this spring, and he has shown the capacity to pitch on consecutive days. It comes nearly 12 years after the Mets traded the former phenom to Oakland, where he launched a career as one of the game’s most dependable closers.

“Right now we all agree he’s throwing the ball very well and we would like to see him as part of our team,” Warthen said. “The health is the whole issue. If he continues to throw like he’s throwing, I think he is part of this team.”

Parnell, Isringhausen and Francisco Rodriguez would form the back end of the bullpen. D.J. Carrasco also is a lock for the bullpen, with Tim Byrdak, Taylor Buchholz and Pedro Beato the frontrunners for the remaining three spots.

Isringhausen, who is scheduled to face the Braves tomorrow, said he loves the challenge of trying to prove he belongs.

“I’ve never been in this situation before — I’ve never had to make a team,” Isringhausen said. “But it’s a good thing because you come in and get your work done and you can concentrate a little bit more when you’re out there.

“I put that in my head when I got here, knowing that spring training means something this year — the numbers mean something. Usually you’re just worried about how your arm feels. You can have a nine ERA and not worry about it. But when you are trying to make a team, that doesn’t look too good.”

Isringhausen has formed a bond with Rodriguez. Combined, they have 561 career saves, making them potentially a dynamic 1-2 punch in the bullpen.

“[Isringhausen] has been around the block for a while, and so far, after all that time he lost, he seems like he’s in pretty good shape,” Rodriguez said. “I have loved learning from a guy who has 293 saves. He has been doing this job for longer than I have, so it’s nice sometimes to share experiences. I would love to have him in front of me. With Parnell, I like my chances after the seventh inning with those two guys.”

As much as Warthen said he values Isringhausen’s ability, he loves the idea of adding experience to the bullpen — and perhaps the eighth-inning pressure cooker.

“What he can do, helping some of our younger guys, is enormous,” Warthen said. “Him in the clubhouse and his toughness and demeanor make as much difference as his pitching.”

mpuma@nypost.com