Man, oh man does this Astros scandal have tentacles.
After A.J. Hinch and Jeff Luhnow were fired in Houston and the Red Sox parted ways with manager Alex Cora, it now looks like Mets manager Carlos Beltran could lose his job before he even manages a game.
This, from plugged-in New York Post reporter Mike Puma:
Pay attention to the way this has all unfolded. First, the focus was on the Astros. Then once Hinch and Luhnow were suspended (and fired by owner Jim Crane an hour later), the focus shifted to Cora, who was more of a mastermind in the cheating scandal than Hinch or Luhnow appeared to be.
Once Cora was let go, the focus shifted to Beltran, and this damning clip resurfaced Wednesday morning where Cora referenced Beltran.
This is a disaster for the Mets. In Beltran, they thought they had their manager of the future. It was a universally praised hire because he was such a successful Met. And now they might have to let him go before he even debuts because of the wide-ranging stink this sign-stealing scandal has.
If the Mets do cut ties with Beltran, they will obviously have to act fast in finding a replacement with spring training a month away. And worse yet, that job would be behind the Astros and Red Sox in attractiveness.
MLB
Unlike Hinch, Luhnow and Cora, Beltran does not face a suspension from MLB because he was a player at the time.
It's interesting how this has all flowed, though. Initially, Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen dismissed the idea of firing Beltran.
"At this point I don’t see any reason why this is a Mets situation," the GM told reporters in November.
Seems like it is now.
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