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MLB: Sign-Stealing Investigation Did Not Uncover Evidence Astros Players Used Buzzers Or ‘Wearable Devices’

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Shanna Lockwood/USA TODAY Sports

Several weeks of speculation gave way to clarity this week when Major League Baseball announced the findings from their investigation into the Houston Astros and levied forth penalties against the organization.

The Astros received a $5 million — the maximum amount permitted under the Major League constitution — and general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch were suspended for the 2020 season, plus the team forfeited first- and second-round draft picks for the next two years.

Astros owner Jim Crane was absolved through the investigation, and he promptly fired Luhnow and Hinch. The domino effect reached the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, as the clubs parted with respective managers Alex Cora and Carlos Beltran.

While MLB clearly determined — and explained — in their nine-page findings that the Astros illegally stole signs by setting up a system that comprised of a camera in center field and monitor in the dugout hallway, speculation ran amuck that players additionally wore buzzers.

MLB, however, noted they did not find evidence of any such act, per ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez

In response, Major League Baseball said Thursday it “explored wearable devices during the investigation [into the Astros] but found no evidence to substantiate it.”

An MLB official said the inquiry into wearable devices included the 2019 season.

A Twitter account purported to be the niece of Beltran was first to mention the use of buzzers tapped to a body part. That was then corroborated by multiple parties, including Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer, who previously has been hypercritical of the Astros.

Although MLB asked all clubs to refrain from speaking about their investigation, and in the Dodgers case, the 2017 World Series as well, Cody Bellinger commented on the latest accusations brought forth against the Astros.

So too did Alex Wood, with the teammates voicing dismay over the possibility and questioning how players were not punished as part of the sign-stealing scandal.

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com