Contract to get Hornets playing (7)
I believe the answer is:
shorten
'contract' is the definition.
(I know that shorten is a type of contract)
'hornets playing' is the wordplay.
'playing' indicates an anagram.
'hornets' with letters rearranged gives 'SHORTEN'.
'to get' is the link.
(Other definitions for shorten that I've seen before include "Abridge" , "Clip" , "Reduce in length" , "Cut back" , "Put extra fat" .)