"Worst thing is Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman gets booed a lot" - MLB insider claims perpetrators of Astros cheating scandal escaped real consequences

The Houston Astros' 2017 sign-stealing scandal is still one of the most talked about topics in baseball. The Astros took down the LA Dodgers to win their first World Series that year; however, later in Nov. 2019, news broke that the club used a video camera to steal signs of opposing pitchers between games from 2017 to 2018.

While the team and its staff faced suspensions, fines, and loss of draft picks, Astros players weren't penalized due to their immunity agreement with MLB. Key figures like AJ Hinch and Alex Cora served suspensions but have since returned to prominent roles. Hinch is the Detroit Tigers manager while Alex Cora is the manager of the Boston Red Sox.

On Monday's edition of "Casa De Klub" podcast, MLB insider Jeff Passan spoke about how some individuals escaped severe punishments after hurting the fairness in the game of baseball.

"I think what Major League Baseball has always been scared of is being accused of having an unfair game," Passan said (26:40 onwards). "Yet, you look at what happened with the Houston Astros and the lack of significant punishment for any of the people involved—not just the players but also individuals like AJ Hinch, who’s back in the game, and Alex Cora, who’s also back in the game. Jeff Luhnow isn’t back, but I think that’s for other reasons.

"Pretty much everyone involved in the Astros' cheating scandal has walked away relatively clean. The worst thing that’s happened is that José Altuve and Alex Bregman still get booed a lot. It’s not easy on them, but I think they understand that one of the consequences is that they’ll face that for the rest of their careers."

MLB's findings in Astros sign stealing scandal and subsequent actions

In Jan. 2020, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed that the Astros had illegally used video cameras to steam opposing team's signs "in the 2017 regular season and postseason, and in parts of the 2018 regular season." As per the investigation report, the then bench coach Alex Cora devised a plan to steal signs.

This included banging a trash can once or twice a sign for a breaking ball and no bangs indicating a fastball. The banging method didn't continue in the 2018 season but they still used other methods to get an unfair advantage before players stopped using it later, deeming it ineffective.

As a result, the Astros were $5 million and lost their first- and second-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021. The then-GM Jeff Lunhow, manager AJ Hinch and Alex Cora were suspended for the entire 2020 season. For the testimony by the players, they were given immunity.