Just when you thought things couldn’t possibly get worse for the slumping Mets, trade deadline pickup Javier Baez exited the fifth inning of Sunday’s game against the Phillies with what the team described as left hip tightness.
Baez grimaced as he grounded out to Phils second baseman Jean Segura, didn’t leave the batter’s box and limped back to the dugout. He was replaced at shortstop by Jonathan Villar, who shifted over from third base, as the Mets took the field in the bottom of the inning.
Baez is batting just .176 (6-for-34) with two home runs and 13 strikeouts in nine games since the Mets acquired him from the Cubs ahead of the trade deadline last month.
The Mets have been hampered by various injuries all season, and they most recently have been without ace starter Jacob deGrom (forearm) and $341 million shortstop Francisco Lindor (oblique).
Utility infielder Luis Guillorme also is on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring.