Tigers manager Hinch grateful for another shot

DETROIT — This year, the start of spring training was meaningful in a different way for AJ Hinch.

After winning a World Series and two pennants as Houston’s manager, Hinch spent last season serving a suspension in the aftermath of the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. Now he has resurfaced with Detroit, and although it would be a surprise if the Tigers make the postseason, Hinch just appreciates the opportunity to be back in a big league dugout.

“I hated being out of the game last year,” said Hinch, who was hired as Detroit’s manager in October. “I understand why, and I’m not going to take it for granted that I get to put on a major league uniform again and lead a group of guys throughout the season.”

The Tigers had their first workout for pitchers and catchers Wednesday in Lakeland, Fla.

Hinch and the Astros won the World Series in 2017, but an investigation found the Astros used a video feed from a center field camera to decode the opposing catcher’s signs, and players banged on a trash can to signal to hitters what was coming. Houston fired Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow, and MLB suspended them for last season.

Now Hinch has to begin rebuilding his reputation to some extent with a franchise that is trying to become relevant again.

“This matters to me. This position matters to me, this organization that’s given me another opportunity — it matters to me. And I’m going to take the time and the opportunity to let everybody know it,” Hinch said before Wednesday’s workout.

In other baseball news:

• Jared Porter wasn’t the only employee the New York Mets fired in January over allegations of sexual harassment.

The team revealed a second dismissal on Wednesday after details of the case were published by the Athletic. According to that report, Ryan Ellis ,an organizational hitting coordinator, made explicit and threatening overtures to at least three female team employees, who initially told the club’s human resources department about his behavior in 2018.

The Mets said in a statement that the case had been investigated at the time and Ellis was placed on probation and sent for counseling, but was allowed to continue in his work with the team. But after Porter, the former general manager, was fired on Jan. 19 for sending lewd texts and photos to a female reporter, “new information” regarding Ellis came to light and he was fired.

• Righthanded reliever John Curtiss was traded by the Tampa Bay Rays to the Miami Marlins for minor league first baseman Evan Edwards.

Curtiss went 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 17 games last year.

• Cody Allen, the Indians’ career saves leader, has retired at age 32.

• Athletics catcher Sean Murphy will be sidelined for several weeks with a collapsed lung that required surgery.

• Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, is retiring from baseball after five years as a minor leaguer with the Mets.