PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Mets have made a late addition to their coaching staff, hiring Long Island native and former Blue Jays pitcher Danny Barnes to be an assistant Major League coach.

Barnes had been pursuing a graduate degree at Columbia University, but he paused those plans to accept the Mets’ offer. According to manager Buck Showalter, Barnes will be able to continue his degree work in the future.

A native of Manhasset, N.Y., Barnes attended Princeton University before spending a decade in the Blue Jays organization. That run included three years in the Majors, from 2016-18, when Barnes produced a 4.33 ERA over 119 relief appearances. He briefly resurfaced last summer for the independent Long Island Ducks, on a roster that included 17 former big leaguers.

In announcing the hire, Showalter was vague about Barnes’ actual duties, calling him a “utility infielder” who “can do a little bit of everything” and “has got a great skill set.” As someone boasting both top-level playing experience and Ivy League acumen, Barnes presumably can communicate organizational ideas to players, much as former manager Luis Rojas did when he served as quality control coach. The Mets eliminated the position of quality control coach last season.

“He understands a lot of things that we have to do, and he’s played in the big leagues,” Showalter said. “He knows his way around a Major League locker room, and he’ll help everybody.”

Barnes joins a staff that also includes bench coach Glenn Sherlock, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, hitting coach Eric Chavez, assistant hitting coach Jeremy Barnes, bullpen coach Craig Bjornson, first-base coach Wayne Kirby and third-base coach Joey Cora. All are already on-site in Port St. Lucie, preparing for the end of the Major League lockout.