Astros add $66M to Verlander’s contract

Justin Verlander and the Astros agreed to a contract adding an additional $66 million in guaranteed money for 2020 and ’21, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

The person spoke Saturday on the condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced. The agreement was first reported by KRIV-FOX 26.

A 36-year-old righthander, Verlander is due

$28 million in 2019, the final guaranteed season of a seven-year, $180 million deal he signed with the Tigers before the 2013 season. That contract included a

$22 million for 2020 that would have become guaranteed if Verlander finished among the top five in Cy Young Award voting this year.

Verlander was traded from the Tigers to the Astros on Aug. 31, 2017, and helped the Astros win their first World Series that season. The 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner and a seven-time All-Star, he finished second in Cy Young voting last season after going 16-9 with a 2.52 ERA in 34 starts. He pitched

214 innings and led the AL with 290 strikeouts.

Reds All-Star second baseman Scooter Gennett will miss the opening months of the season with a groin strain.

Gennett got hurt while making a play on a ground ball hit Friday against the Brewers. He had an MRI, and the Reds said Saturday that he’s expected to miss two to three months.

Gennett has been the Reds’ top hitter the last two seasons.

Reds lose Gennett: Lindor, Kipnis not ready:

The Indians rulled out shortstop Francisco Lindor and double-play partner Jason Kipnis for opening day.

The team said Friday night that neither player will be ready for Thursday’s opener against the Twins. Lindor will start the year on the 10-day injured list. He has been recovering from a right calf strain that’s limited him during spring training. He has yet to appear in a Cactus League game but has participated in intrasquad minor league games. Potentially frigid weather in Minneapolis is an extra concern.

Kipnis had an MRI on Thursday which confirmed a mild right calf strain. He won’t do any baseball activities for 7 to 10 days before being re-evaluated.

Veteran right-hander Jason Hammel told the Rangers on Friday he will retire despite being informed earlier in the day he made the team’s opening-day roster as a long reliever.

“After discussing it with the family, he felt spending time with them was his priority right now,” Rangers GM Jon Daniels said. “It’s something I certainly respect. Choosing to spend time with family, he’s had a good career, it’s a personal call to do it.

“His ability to pitch in different roles, we felt good with him in that spot. We’ll just have to adjust.”

Hammel, 36, finished his carer 96-114 with a 4.62 ERA in 13 seasons for six teams. He earned a World Series ring with the Cubs in 2016 despite suffering a late-season injury that prevented him from pitching during the club’s historic postseason run.

Hammel retires: