Yankees undermined by two former players in Astros sign-stealing scandal

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The New York Yankees were undercut by two ex-teammates in the Astros sign-stealing scandal. Both Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran were present in the Astros’ dugout when their club participated in the sign-stealing scheme. As we currently are aware, at least Beltran actively participated in the illegal activity.

The entire baseball world was rocked last Monday when MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred issued a full report on the results of the Houston Astros’ electronic sign-stealing investigation and revealed the punishment handed down.

Even after all MLB teams were warned by Commissioner Manfred, following the Boston Red Sox Apple watch sign-stealing effort, not to engage in this type of activity in the future, the ‘Stros brazenly made illegal use of camera surveillance and electronic communications to decode pitch selection signs flashed by opposing catchers.

Not since the infamous Black Sox Scandal involving a plan by eight players to rig the outcome of the 1919 World Series has baseball experienced such a significant indignity. Nearly every media outlet, including all the major ones, are covering the Houston sign-stealing story.

By any standards, this was an extensive investigation conducted by the MLB Department of Investigations (DOI). The DOI interviewed 68 witnesses, including 23 current and former Astros’ players (with some questioned multiple times).

Also, the DOI reviewed tens of thousands of emails, Slack communications, text messages, video film, photographs, and various forms of other kinds of signs. The ‘Stros fully cooperated with the inquiry.

What began in Houston carried over to Boston

While the owner of the Astros, Jim Crane, was exonerated by MLB, manager A.J. Hinch and General Manager Jeff Luhnow were severely disciplined. Both drew one-year suspensions without pay. The club was fined $5 million (the highest allowable fine under the Major League Constitution) and lost its first and second-round draft picks in the 2020 and 2021 First-Year Player Drafts.

Former Assistant GM Brandon Taubman was also suspended for inappropriate conduct in the clubhouse for one year.

Hinch expressed sincere regret. Although he once tried to stop the illegal activity by breaking the screen of a monitor, electronic sign-stealing continued on without any further intervention on his part.

The ballplayers involved said that they would have ceased the sign-stealing operation had Hinch instructed them to do so. Luhnow, in contrast, claimed his innocence and said that others within the club were to blame.

As we know from media reports, Alex Cora, the Astros’ Bench Coach in 2017, was found to have played a significant role in the sign-stealing ploy. As a result, the Boston Red Sox and manager Cora “parted ways” on Tuesday.

Who was the mastermind, Alex Cora or Carlos Beltran?

Somber Red Sox executives, as they explained during their news conference on Wednesday, had no choice but to cut ties with their much admired and well-liked field general. Disciplinary action for him by MLB is pending, and his punishment will likely be severe, perhaps a two-year suspension or more.

According to Red Sox executives, Cora expressed remorse for his actions and apologized to the club when they met with him. MLB is continuing its investigation of the Red Sox for sign stealing as well, and Sox executives refused to address any questions concerning that inquiry. Avoiding comments on the ongoing investigation by the Commissioner’s office was the correct thing to do on their part.

In November 2019, Carlos Beltran became the new manager of the New York Mets. He received a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year. On Thursday, the Mets let him go because of his active involvement in the Astros’ electronic sign-stealing.

The Mets, like the Red Sox with Cora, portrayed the dismissal as a mutual parting of ways. The immediate release of Cora by the Sox and the intense media focus on the scandal left the Mets no choice but to let Beltran go.

Similar to the Red Sox, the executives of the Mets said that it wasn’t an easy decision and that Carlos was honest and forthcoming with them. Similar to Cora, Beltran admitted his guilt and was remorseful. And like Cora, Beltran may very well return to professional baseball in some capacity in the future.

Brian McCann

Receiving almost no attention, two former players of the Bronx Bombers undermined the Yankees in a disgraceful manner by participating in the scheme or, at the very least, failing to intervene and prevent the sign-stealing when the clubs played each other at Minute Maid Park in 2017 during the regular-season and of course, seven arduous ALCS games.

Catcher, McCann began his major league career with the Atlanta Braves in June 2005. He remained with the Braves through the 2013 season. Between 2014 and 2016, he played for the Yankees.

He was traded to the Astros and played for them in 2017 and 2018. McCann finished his career back with the Braves in 2019.

Over a 15-year period, his batting average was .262. McCann hit 282 home runs and drove in 1,018 runs. He made the All-Star team seven times, received the Silver Slugger Award six times, and played on the 2017 World Series champion ‘Stros.

In November 2013, McCann signed a lucrative five-year, $85 million contract with the New York Yankees, with a vesting option for a sixth year. He led the Yankees in home runs (23) and RBIs (75) in 2014. He also hit well in 2015 (26 homers and 94 RBIs) and 2016 (20 homers and 58 RBIs). However, he had mediocre batting averages in all three years with the Yanks.

Gary Sanchez, an up and coming young stud, was ready to take his place behind the plate with a solid Austin Romine as the backup. Also, Carlos Beltran, a much better hitter than McCann, was going to become the new designated hitter — quite a coincidence, as you will see when you read on. McCann was therefore traded to Houston in November 2016.

Reports at the time indicated that McCann felt that he had been treated well professionally and with a great deal of respect by GM Brian Cashman. Moreover, manager Joe Girardi, once a catcher himself, applauded McCann’s play behind the plate and in the batter’s box.

In the 2017 ALCS against the Yankees, McCann hit RBI doubles in Games 6 and 7 against his former team to help the ‘Stros reach the World Series. McCann caught every inning of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he went 5-for-25 with a pivotal home run in Game 5. The Astros defeated the sunshine boys in seven games.

(Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

McCann saying nothing is just as bad

During the 2018 season, McCann only batted .212/.301/.339. While he remained a good catcher throughout his career, he had the slowest baserunning sprint speed of all major league catchers and the second-slowest speed of all major league players in 2018. McCann essentially was a “walking double play” waiting to happen, when he managed to get to first base. He retired following the 2019 season, ending his career with the Braves.

McCann was not only respected for his batting and his fielding as a catcher while he was with Houston (and other clubs), he also was an influential and effective leader in the clubhouse. He was considered to have a great deal of integrity and a good moral compass, and most players listened to what he had to say. In particular, McCann was a terrific role model for young players; at least it was thought at the time.

Unfortunately, he never spoke up about the electronic sign-stealing by the ‘Stros while he was with the team. Although he received a very generous contract from the Yankees, he sat on the bench silent, while the cheating was in full swing against the Bombers (and other clubs).

What happened to his principles, values, and veteran leadership? McCann had to know that sign stealing was going on and that it was illegal, especially after the MLB Commissioner’s Office had warned teams of severe punishment if clubs engaged in it following the Apple watch sign-stealing by the Red Sox. For some reason, McCann decided to look the other way and keep his mouth shut.

Whether he participated in the sign-stealing scam and benefited from it, we do not know for sure (though the MLB Commissioner’s office may have information about this). Yet, by not saying anything to anyone, McCann is as guilty as those who directly participated in the scandal and benefited at the plate from doing so.

Of course, there is a chance that he directly benefited from the electronic sign-stealing himself, and he, therefore, decided not to speak up. Or, maybe McCann didn’t feel that he owed his former club (and other clubs and players like him) anything.

My guess is that there was a weird dynamic playing out in the clubhouse. The Houston players liked and respected Cora and Beltran a lot, and Hinch was perhaps hesitant to step in and alienate Cora, Beltran, and the players who were directly benefiting from the sign stealing.

Clearly, the Astros have several talented and very strong (even arrogant) personalities on the club. McCann likely observed all this and decided it wasn’t worth intervening and creating a serious and enduring conflict in the Houston clubhouse, particularly near the end of his career.

Carlos Beltran

From 1998 through 2017, Beltran played for the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Yankees, and Texas Rangers. He was with the ‘Stros in 2004 and then again in 2017. In December 2013, he signed a three-year, $45 million deal to join the Yanks, even though he was offered more money by another club at the time. He played for the Bombers between 2014 and 2016.

Beltran was a terrific baseball player, and he is (was) a future Hall of Famer. He was chosen AL Rookie of the Year in 1999 while with the Royals. During his career, Beltran was named to nine MLB All-Star teams, won three Gold Glove Awards, and two Silver Slugger Awards.

In addition, he was the fifth player to hit 400 home runs and steal 300 bases, and just the fourth switch-hitter to smash 400 homers. Beltran also was an outstanding base stealer, having the highest success rate of any major league player with 300 or more attempts (88.3%). He retired from baseball following Houston’s victory in the 2017 World Series against the Dodgers.

Following the 2017 season, Beltran interviewed for the managerial job with the Yankees. Although the Bombers chose Aaron Boone, the team was impressed with Beltran and hired him as a special adviser to GM Cashman.

Of course, the Yanks did not know the role Beltran played in the illegal electronic sign-stealing scandal perpetrated by Houston in 2017. However, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s report states that:

Early in the [sic 2017] season, Alex Cora, the Astros’ Bench Coach, began to call the replay review room on the replay phone to obtain the sign information. On at least some occasions, the employees in the replay review room communicated the sign sequence information by text message, which was received on the smartwatch of a staff member on the bench, or in other cases on a cell phone stored nearby. 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 the Astros’ dugout.

Beltran rightfully fired by Mets

In the report, Manfred explains that he decided not to name any players and punish them due to the complications surrounding present and past players and their uncertain level of involvement in the electronic sign-stealing ploy. Such determinations would require a lot more digging and would take a lot longer to determine.