Mets cut ties with Beltran amid scandal
Carlos Beltran’s 2½-month tenure as Mets manager ended Thursday before he spent a single game on the bench, the latest fallout from the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal that has rocked Major League Baseball.
Beltran was the only Astros hitter mentioned by name Monday when MLB issued its findings from an investigation into the club’s conduct. No players were disciplined, but the nine-page report said Beltran was among the group involved in the team’s illicit use of electronics to pilfer signs during Houston’s run to the 2017 World Series championship.
“Considering the circumstances, it became clear to all parties that it was not in anyone’s best interest for Carlos to move forward as Manager of the Mets,” team COO Jeff Wilpon and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said in a statement Thursday.
Beltran is the third manager to lose his job in the fallout from the investigation.
MLB: No evidence Astros wore devices
Major League Baseball said Thursday there was no evidence that the Astros wore concealed devices that notified them of certain pitches, including last season.
Tweets surfaced that Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman “wore devices that buzzed” on the inside of their right shoulders, and that the devices were controlled by a video coordinator who presumably decoded signs by opposing catchers and relayed them to the batters.
Springer, Astros agree to 1-year deal
The Astros and outfielder George Springer agreed to a one-year, $21 million contract to avoid arbitration.
Springer was selected as an All-Star for the third consecutive season in 2019, setting career highs in batting average (.292), home runs (39), and RBI (96).
Giants name Nakken 1st female coach
Alyssa Nakken became the first female coach on a major-league staff in baseball history when she was named an assistant under new Giants manager Gabe Kapler.