BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Mets have not completely shut the door on bringing Jenrry Mejia back next season, and they are gathering information by watching him pitch in the Dominican Winter League.

Though Mejia’s 162-game suspension is still in force in the majors and will run until approximately July 26 next season, Mejia is eligible to pitch in Winter Leagues. He is starting for Licey, and in four outings, he has a 5.40 ERA while allowing 26 hits in 16 2/3 innings with just nine strikeouts.

The Mets – and others – will be watching to see what Mejia looks like after essentially not pitching in 2015 and, presumably, what he looks like pitching clean. He was suspended twice last season for failing tests for performance-enhancing drugs.

Even if Mejia looked good, the Mets might not bring him back for a variety of reasons, including that their clubhouse turned against the righty for his irresponsibility.

But the Mets intend to use all of their available time to make a decision. Contracts must be tendered by Dec. 2. Mejia’s salary last year – had he played the full season – would have been $2.595 million. He is due to be a second-time arbitration case if kept by the Mets, who could offer a 20-percent cut of his salary, down to $2.076 million. Considering the two drug suspensions, Mejia probably could not get anything close to that on the open market and may actually take the pay cut.

And remember, whatever he is paid, it would be pro-rated for the 99 games he would be eligible to play when he returns (he was suspended for the final 63 games last season). So he would be in line to earn roughly $1.1 million, which still may be too much for the Mets considering Mejia’s behavior.

However, one other benefit: Because Mejia is currently on the suspended list, the Mets could carry him without using a 40-man roster spot.