Carlos Beltran’s fate as New York Mets manager remains up in the air as of Wednesday night after his revealed connections with the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal during the 2017 season.
The Mets declined to shed light on the situation when AMNewYork Metro made multiple inquiries for comment.
Given the Mets’ silence, Beltran is in danger of not even lasting three months on the job after he was hired on Nov. 1.
The 42-year-old won over Mets management in large part because of his analytical ability to break down opposing pitchers and — when necessary — legally steal signs and identify tipped pitches.
It appears as though that ability wasn’t always as wholesome as initially believed. Beltran’s name popped up in Rob Manfred’s nine-page report of the Astros’ sign-stealing investigation released on Monday.
The Astros illegally used cameras in center field to relay the opposing catcher’s signals to their batter thanks to a television monitor just inside the clubhouse tunnel and an attendant who would bang on a garbage can to expose the incoming pitch.
While former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora — Houston’s bench coach at the time — was considered the mastermind behind it, Manfred’s report explained that it was “player-driven,” listing Beltran by name.
“Approximately two months into the 2017 season, a group of players, including Carlos Beltran, discussed that the team could improve on decoding opposing teams’ signs and communicating the signs to the batter. Cora arranged for a video room technician to install a monitor displaying the center field camera feed immediately outside of the Astros’ dugout. (The center field camera was primarily used for player development purposes and was allowed under MLB rules at the time when used for that purpose.) Witnesses have provided largely consistent accounts of how the monitor was utilized.”
Following MLB’s punishment for the Astros on Monday, which included year-long suspensions for manager AJ Hinch and GM Jeff Luhnow, team owner Jim Crane fired both men.
On Tuesday, the Red Sox “mutually” parted ways with Cora.
No players in the scheme have been punished and it was initially reported that Beltran would escape any penalties by MLB. However, his inclusion in the scandal suggests the Mets are having extensive second thoughts on having him manage the team.
On Wednesday afternoon, MLB insider Buster Olney reported on ESPN Radio that the Mets’ faith in Beltran was “wavering.”
Further speculation was fueled when a Twitter user claiming to be Beltran’s niece said that the Mets manager was going to step down.
She has yet to be confirmed as his niece, but it is worth noting that she broke the news that the Mets were hiring Beltran days before it was made official.
