The Mets signed right-handed reliever Daniel Bard to a minor league contract Monday. He will report to the team’s minor league facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

The 31-year-old Bard, who last pitched in the major leagues in 2013 for the Red Sox, was released May 15 by the Cardinals after pitching to a 10.38 ERA with 19 walks over 8 ²/₃ innings in Double-A.

Bard burst on the scene in 2009 with Boston, when he struck out 63 in 49 1/3 innings. Before slipping in 2012, Bard had put together three impressive seasons, pitching to a 2.88 ERA with 213 strikeouts in 197 innings.

Third baseman Wilmer Flores was given the day off Monday against the Cubs at Citi Field after starting the previous 11 games. Jose Reyes started in his place.

Flores is batting .379 (39-for-103) since May 1, which is the highest batting average in baseball in that time. With the Mets scheduled to faced left-handers the next three games, manager Terry Collins wanted to give Flores, who specializes in hitting southpaws, a breather Monday.

After being used in the team’s last four games spanning 3 ¹/₃ innings pitched, left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins was unavailable Monday, Collins said. Closer Addison Reed, who threw 2 ²/₃ innings over the previous two days in earning a pair of saves, was a question mark.