Astros’ Players Were Given Immunity in Cheating Scandal by MLB

Major League Baseball came down hard on Astros’ management for their roles in cheating by using technology to steal signs. The same was not the case for players, which led to some questions. Now Wall Street Journal’s Jared Diamond is reporting that MLB has given players immunity.

One reason for immunity is that the players never received a memo from the Commissioner Rob Manfred regarding sign-stealing. If players were punished, they would have a legitimate case to appeal given that fact.

Manfred made a public statement about the use of technology to steal signs in 2017 when the Boston Red Sox were caught using Apple Watches to steal signs from the New York Yankees. To go with that, Manfred sent a memo to all 30 teams, which the Astros failed to pass onto their players.

Despite the memo being sent, the Astros continued to use their replay room behind the dugout to steal signs. That is why GM Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch were given season-long suspensions by the league.

Since that point, Luhnow and Hinch have been fired by the Astros. Red Sox manager Alex Cora was fired for doing similar things in Boston and in Houston. Carlos Beltran, who was on a player on the Astros, did not even get to manage one game for the Mets, as they mutually agreed to step down.