Despite how poorly Jason Vargas has performed in his first season with the Mets — and apparently, no matter how poorly he pitches the rest of the season — Mickey Callaway wants the veteran in the team’s rotation next season.

Prior to Vargas’ start Tuesday night — which the 35-year-old entered with an 8.27 ERA, having thrown no more than five innings in his 11 starts — the Mets manager endorsed the oft-injured, long-struggling southpaw as the team’s preferred fifth starter next year, slotted behind Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler.

Vargas, who signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Mets as a free agent, posted a 4.16 ERA with Kansas City last year, and has a 4.31 ERA for his career.

“I think we’re the best team we can possibly be with Vargas being the guy he was last year in our rotation,” Callaway said.

Though Callaway wouldn’t rule out sending Vargas to the bullpen at some point in the next two months, the first-year manager wants to keep him in the rotation, believing it will be beneficial for next season.

“I think we all feel confident that Jason, when he gets going and gets on a good schedule, he’s going to be competitive,” Callaway said. “That’s one of the reasons we signed him. I think it’s necessary in the fact that we need him to be built up as many innings-wise so he can go out next year and haul a bunch of inning for us.

“You can never predict how guys are going to come into next year based on what they did at the end of the year before. We’ve seen guys win Cy Young [awards] and go and then lose 19 games. It’s never a good indicator of how they’re going to perform the next year, but we would like for him to have some success at the end of the season to be able to build up his innings, so that when it comes back next season, if he’s in a good spot and everything’s going well, he can continue to pitch and try to be the guy he was last year.”

With Matz (strained forearm) expected to miss at least one more start, rookie Corey Oswalt (1-2, 5.13 ERA) will receive at least one more opportunity to steal Vargas’ spot. The 24-year-old allowed three runs, over six innings, Sunday against Atlanta.

Callaway said he also isn’t opposed to giving Seth Lugo another chance to start this season, and could consider the mixed-use pitcher for the rotation next season.

“September can be an interesting month. If we had the opportunity or the need, he could definitely slip back in the rotation,” Callaway said. “I think that after this season, no matter how we use him the rest of this year, he will prepare as a starter coming to spring training because you always need to have enough starters coming to the season because anything can happen, and then you can always transition him into the bullpen.”

Callaway has also set “specific guidelines” with pitching coach Dave Eiland, in order to monitor the use of Lugo, and Robert Gsellman, the rest of the season.

“We’re really trying to be mindful of the innings that Robert has and Seth have, at this point,” Callaway said. “We’re gonna put some rules on ourselves, as far as usage for those guys moving forward and try to stick to those.”