Beltran Out as Mets Manager Over Sign Stealing Scandal

The old adage that things come in threes proved to be true today when the New York Mets parted ways with Carlos Beltran over the 2017 Houston Astros sign stealing scandal. His dismissal comes less than 48 hours after the Boston Red Sox did the same with Alex Cora and less than 72 hours after the Houston Astros fired both manager A.J. Hinch and GM Jeff Luhnow following their being suspended for the 2020 season by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.

This comes only two and a half months after Beltran was hired by the Mets after firing Mickey Callaway. Beltran was the only player named in Manfred's report. On the MLB Network, Billy Ripken wondered if the Mets asked Beltran if he had any role in the scheme during the interview process as it had been bubbling under the surface for the past couple of seasons. Today's move indicates that it might have very well come up and Beltran was not forthcoming.

But even if Beltran had been candid, he would have been under so much scrutiny that it would have impeded the Mets from functioning both on and off the field. So a move had to be made. That and Brodie Van Wagenen didn't want to follow in Luhnow's footsteps.

While the Astros and Red Sox are going through the same process, the Mets are going through it for the second time in less than three months. Mind you this was a team that had a chance to hire Joe Girardi and passed. So it doesn't look good. Still the Mets will probably hire someone with no big league managing experience who won't be a threat to Van Wagenen's authority whereas the Astros and the Red Sox will hire an experienced with sterling credentials and unimpeachable character.

Although I don't think any more managers will be fired between now and Opening Day, I have a feeling this is the tip of the iceberg. All MLB organizations will be under intense scrutiny especially those who have denied engaging this behavior like Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona. I suspect this behavior is far more prevalent than we know. This is baseball's biggest scandal since the Black Sox Scandal a century ago and things will probably get worse before they get better.