Collins steps down as Mets manager

PHILADELHIA — Mets manager Terry Collins resigned Sunday after seven seasons and said he will take a position in the team’s front office.

“It’s been a blast, but it’s time,” the 68-year-old Collins said.

Collins announced he was stepping down after the Mets lost 11-0 to the Phillies to complete a 70-92 season that began with great expectations but was quickly derailed by injuries.

“It’s one of those years you want to forget, and I will — tomorrow,” Collins said, adding that this season left a “sour taste.”

The Mets were 551-583 overall under Collins, reaching the World Series in 2015 and earning a National League wild-card spot in 2016.

Collins was the oldest manager in the majors and recently said he had no plans to retire after this season. His two-year contract expires after this year.

He managed the Mets longer than anyone else and his victory total ranks second only to Davey Johnson’s 595.

Collins has managed 13 years in the majors with the Astros, Angels and Mets, going a combined 995-1,017.

“I did it a long time,” he said.

In the last few days, things turned ugly amid anonymously sourced reports of sniping by players and friction between Collins and the front office — partly over how he’s handled the bullpen.

Catcher Travis d’Arnaud, however, had only good things to say about Collins.

“Terry’s a great person,” d’Arnaud said after the Mets’ home finale Wednesday. “He’s helped me out a lot through my baseball career.

“He’s an amazing, fiery person. (He) definitely molds a lot of players and brings out the fire in a lot of guys.”