Carlos Beltran deserves Hall of Fame recognition despite the sign-stealing controversy

Carlos Beltran Reflects on His Hall of Fame Journey

Carlos Beltran’s connection to the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal during the run-up to the 2017 World Series did leave a mark on his reputation and cost him his role as manager for the Mets. However, it hasn’t stopped him from achieving a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

This year, Beltran received 84.2 percent of the vote in his fourth year of eligibility. In a Zoom call on Tuesday, he admitted that his past controversies complicated his journey to Cooperstown.

“There’s certainly been a lot of discussion around the Astros situation,” he noted, adding that it’s not exactly a “positive” topic for him.

“When you look back at your career in the baseball world, there will be highs and lows,” Beltran said. “You make good choices, then there are those so-so decisions, and you’ll inevitably make some poor choices too.” This includes his role in Houston’s sign-stealing operation, which featured methods like banging on trash cans to signal batters during his last playoff season—a season that ended with a victory over the Yankees in the ALCS and led them to the championship.

“After retiring from baseball, I thought I might lose everything I had built—my relationships and the good people I knew,” Beltran shared. He still connects with players and finds support from his former teammates. “But I also realize it’s a story I have to manage.”

Now, as a Hall of Famer, Beltran will enter the Hall alongside Andrew Jones and Jeff Kent this July, another former Met.

Beltran’s voting percentages have gradually increased over four years, beginning at 46.5% in his first year and climbing to 70.3% last year. He has faced challenges regarding his reputation for a long time, revealing to the Post in 2022 that he’s aware many fans aren’t as forgiving as some former teammates might be.

“This is a fight I can’t win,” he said regarding fans’ perceptions. “No matter how much I try to justify my actions during that time, I’m not going to come out on top. I feel it when I’m at the ballpark.” He mentioned that while players still recognize him and show respect, he has lost some of the fan recognition he once enjoyed.

Despite his hurdles, Beltran is still respected within the sport and expressed that he hasn’t lost sight of his dream to coach one day.

He noted that working with the Mets and their owner, Steve Cohen, has helped him stay relevant in baseball, potentially raising his chances of returning to a coaching role after his first opportunity was tainted by scandal in 2019.