Kansas City Royals: Carlos Beltran strikes out on integrity
By Travis Neely
The sign stealing scandal in Houston continues to grow as does the list of names who were part of it. As the firing of of managers and coaches grows, so does the credibility concerns of a former member of the Kansas City Royals.
Thursday marked the third manager casualty linked with with the sign stealing scandal associated with the 2017 World Series Championship team. On Thursday, the New York Mets announced they have “mutually parted ways” just three months after hiring Carlos Beltran, who spent seven years with the Kansas City Royals. Beltran never managed a game in MLB and now most likely will never get the chance.
It’s worth commending how both the Mets and the Red Sox have proceeded with a pair of the names that have been associated with the scandal. Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen and Red Sox GM Chaim Bloom didn’t waste time and swiftly addressed the issue with two names involved in the nine page MLB Report.
Beltran’s career is now and forever will be tainted. As it rightfully it should.
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In his statement, Beltran at least admitted his guilt unlike Astros manager A.J. Hinch who seemed to play off that he was a victim. Hinch admitted he “didn’t endorse” the sign stealing, but didn’t do anything to stop it. Sorry A.J. Hinch, that is the same as participating in it.
Beltran’s career spanned 20 years where he played for seven different teams. He posted 435 career home runs, 2,725 hits, 1587 RBI and a career BA of .279. He was a nine-time All-Star who swiped 312 career bases and received three Gold Gloves.
His numbers as a switch hitter placed him in position to become a Hall of Famer some day. Unfortunately his involvement with this scandal now puts his chances into limbo.
Beltran’s name was even floated around as the future manager in Kansas City as soon as Ned Yost announced his retirement. His name was clearly in the mix to be the skipper of the Yankees after he was interviewed prior to their hiring of Bret Boone.
Even though a hiring of Carlos Beltran would have energized Royals fans, the announcement of his involvement in this scandal would have crushed the franchise just one month away from Spring Training.
Luckily for the Kansas City Royals and GM Dayton Moore, their hiring of Mike Matheny now looks the best managerial move this offseason. The negative reaction toward his hiring now should transition into pure optimism for a young team about to transition out of rebuild.
Beltran will be placed on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2022; Anticipate the conversation of his involvement in the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal to be brought back up. The BBWA voters without a doubt will place his name among others who have disgraced the game to include those of the steroid era.
The only question we have as fans is to simply ask the question of why? Why would a guy so highly thought of across MLB as well and Kansas City even think about being involved in something of this magnitude?
Was is worth getting that World Series Championship? Obviously it was worth tainting a 20 year career with a permanent black eye and jeopardizing enshrinement with the greats.