Carlos Beltran out as New York Mets manager

Carlos Beltran is out as the New York Mets manager, per multiple reports, with Beltran reportedly offering to step down due to his involvement in the Houston Astros cheating scandal.

Beltran was exempted from punishment for his role as one of the ringleaders in the Houston Astros’ 2017 scheme to use live video in an effort to relay signs in real time to hitters, since he was a player on that team and MLB opted not to levy any punishment on players who were part of the plan, and instead punish those in charge. MLB levied heavy penalties on the Houston Astros, including year long-suspensions for manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow, each of whom were subsequently fired.

Alex Cora, who managed the Boston Red Sox in 2018 and 2019, but who was reportedly instrumental in the scheme in his role as bench coach of the 2017 Astros, was removed as the Red Sox manager before any punishment for him was announced. The Red Sox are also being investigated for purportedly stealing signs in 2018, and it was expected that Cora would get a similar suspension to what Hinch and Luhnow received for his role in the Astros scandal, but that would not be announced until MLB made a statement regarding the Boston Red Sox investigation.

Beltran was hired as the New York Mets manager this past offseason, and so never actually managed a game for the team. With his departure, there are now three teams — the Mets, the Red Sox and the Astros — who are looking for new managers on the eve of spring training.