MLB disciplines the Astros; Beltran and the New York Mets dodge a bullet

New York Mets to interview Carlos Beltran.
Sep 25, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran (15) smiles after the benches clear during the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports

Major League Baseball handed out severe punishments to the Houston Astros for their involvement in a sign-stealing scandal. Carlos Beltran, the New York Mets’ manager, was allegedly involved in the scheme. However, MLB decided not to punish players even though the method was mainly driven by them.

It is certainly not fair that no players are being punished if that’s the case. However, the league reportedly prefers not to initiate any fights with the players’ association (MLBPA.)

According to Ken Rosenthal, the team’s manager AJ Hinch and the GM Jeff Lunhow are suspended for a year. Also, the Astros will lose their first and second round picks in the MLB Draft in both 2020 and 2021. There is also a $5 million fine involved.

The alleged scheme, in which the Astros used the replay room to decode signs and relayed them to batters by banging a trash can, was put in place in 2017. That was Beltran’s last active year.

After news broke, Astros owner Jim Crane fired both Hinch and Lunhow in what was a dark day for the franchise. Houston won the World Series in 2017 and beat the New York Yankees in the American League Championship. They used the scheme back then.

Beltran and the Mets are off the hook

However, Beltran (and the New York Mets for that matter) dodged a bullet. The first-year skipper is not among those disciplined. On the other hand, the Boston Red Sox’s manager Alex Cora, another figure involved in the scheme, will reportedly face MLB discipline. He was the bench coach for the Astros in 2017.

The MLB’s report named Cora as an active participant in both developing the team’s banging scheme to alert players to pitches and to illegally utilizing the replay room to decode signs. For now, there was no suspension for Cora but after the league finishes investigation the Red Sox’s scheme in 2018, there will surely be a penalty.