Mets manager Terry Collins uncertain of his status for next season

The Mets have made it clear that they are all about next year.

Numerous veterans have been traded and prospects have been called up. The front-office hierarchy appears status quo.

No one is talking about general manager Sandy Alderson leaving.

But no one is talking about Terry Collins returning.

Earlier this year, when asked about returning to the job he has held since 2011, Collins said managing the Mets is “the love of my life.’’ But as the season has spiraled out of control, his future with the team has not been a topic of conversation with his wife, Deborah, the other love of his life.

“My wife, we made a deal that we aren’t going to talk about it until the end,’’ Collins said before Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks at Citi Field dropped the Mets to 55-71. “I’m not going to sit there and discuss it every day because I got too many other things going on.’’

Alderson has referenced his own future in discussing planning for 2018 and beyond. He has not said where — or if — Collins fits into those plans. No decision is expected before the end of the season.

At 68, Collins is the oldest manager in the majors. He does not think that should disqualify him from continuing.

“Oldest manager? Somebody’s gotta be. When everybody’s 37 and there’s somebody 38, then 38’s the oldest,’’ he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re 68 or 38. If you’re the oldest, you’re the oldest. I don’t feel that just because that’s a chronological age. I got pretty good energy. I keep myself in pretty good health, pretty good shape. So that doesn’t faze me.’’

Collins has managed the most games (1,098) in Mets history. He had a difficult job at the beginning in terms of rebuilding, but he had latitude as Alderson’s pick, and ownership has largely let the GM make the personnel decisions.

Collins’ 536 victories are tied with Bobby Valentine for second in franchise history behind Davey Johnson (595). Collins easily could surpass Johnson next season — if he gets an extension.

“It’s nice,’’ Collins said of his overall record. “The only way you do that, you’ve got good players. That’s where I’ve been lucky. I’ve had very good players here, Sandy’s doing a great job of retooling it. This year, which happens in our game, there’s no answers. The Giants are going through it, the Rangers have gone through it. Nothing’s working. Injuries have piled up. You’re asking guys to do stuff that other people should be doing.’’

Managing, Collins said, “is what I love to do. The game deserves everything you can give it. My experience talking to some of the other guys that have retired, they all said when the season was over, they re-evaluated where they were. They say the daily stuff, all the things involved, ‘can’t do it anymore.’ So they got out.’’

Collins is questioned constantly — except by his wife — about his status. “My friends all ask me,’’ he said.

Does he know what his future holds?

“No,’’ he said, “nor do I worry about it. I got enough things going on a daily basis. At the end of the year, things will take care of themselves. So whether they want me back, whether I feel I should come back, you worry about it at that time.’’