AROUND THE HORN
Nationals: Kyle Schwarber, Josh Bell and Josh Harrison were reinstated from the injured list Monday by the Nationals, making the team’s roster nearly whole again after a coronavirus outbreak sidelined nine players and caused postponement of four games. That trio had been expected to be in the Nats’ opening day lineup — with Schwarber in left field, Bell at first base, Harrison at second — but they were part of the group kept away from the rest of the club because of COVID-19 protocols. Major League Baseball wound up rescheduling the Nats’ first four games of 2021. Four players tested positive for the illness, while five others were put under quarantine after contact tracing determined they might have been exposed. The Nats never announced which players fell into which category. Now eight of the nine are back with the manager Dave Martinez’s club, which took a 1-5 record and five-game losing streak into the opener of a three-game series at the Cardinals. The only player still missing is LHP Jon Lester, who’s expected to spend some time ramping up at the team’s alternate training site before making his Nats debut. While the Nats were in Los Angeles over the weekend, getting swept in three games by the reigning World Series champion Dodgers, Cs Yan Gomes and Alex Avila, LHP Patrick Corbin, closer Brad Hand and INF Jordy Mercer cleared protocols and rejoined the team.
Mets: Francisco Lindor gets a $21 million signing bonus as part of his 10-year, $341 million contract with the Mets that starts next year. The All-Star shortstop was acquired from the Indians in a Jan. 7 trade and agreed Jan. 15 to a one-year, $22.3 million contract.
His new deal, announced April 5, calls for the signing bonus to be paid upon the deal’s approval by MLB. He gets salaries of $32 million annually starting in 2021, of which $5 million each year is deferred without interest. Lindor would get $50,000 bonuses each time he’s an All-Star or wins a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger or the League Championship Series MVP. He would get $50,000 for winning an MVP award, $25,000 for second and $10,000 for third, and $100,000 for World Series MVP. He has a limited no-trade provision.
Tigers, Astros: Firstyear Tigers manager A.J. Hinch returned to Houston for the first time since being suspended by MLB for his role in the sign-stealing scandal that rocked the sport. With Hinch as their manager, the Astros were found to have used cameras and banged on trash cans to get an unfair advantage en route to winning the World Series in 2017. Hinch was fired following a lengthy investigation and was prohibited from managing last season before being hired by the Tigers. “Houston fans have been tremendously supportive to me and my family,” Hinch said before the game. “It’s home for me. That city matters to me. The fans have been tremendous and obviously it will be very emotional when I see them.”
Extra innings: The Angels placed 3B Anthony Rendon on the 10-day IL with a strained groin . ... Rangers RHP Jonathan Hernandez underwent Tommy John surgery, sidelining the reliever until early next season . ... The Cubs placed relievers Jason Adam, Brandon Workman and Dan Winkler on the COVID-19 list after bullpen coach Chris Young tested positive for the virus.