PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Jose Reyes, a Mets infielder, arrived in the major leagues at age 19, smirking at older players like John Franco, the timeless relief pitcher who, at age 42, was still at it.

Reyes is 34 now and one of the “seniors” in the clubhouse, to the delight of Franco, who, timeless as he is, still contributes as a guest instructor.

“Remember when you first came up and called me Grandpa?” Franco said to Reyes when the team was still here for spring training. “Now, you’re the grandpa. Where’s your cane?”

Reyes is far from the only aging veteran on the Mets’ roster. Five of the eight starting position players in Thursday’s season opener against the St. Louis Cardinals were at least 30.