With the Astros already assumed guilty of cheating, what will be the results?

The probe into the Astros and the sign-stealing accusations have just begun and may go on all winter, and beyond. Have they already been found guilty?

The MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred, has indicated that the punishment levied on the Astros could be severe, depending on the outcome of the alleged cheating investigation. What could the possible ramifications be and are we feeling it already?

Everything has been discussed, from hefty fines to losing draft picks and international money, and/or handing down suspensions to personnel found to be involved. How would this affect the Astros Minor League system and the future of this team? Who would be affected by any suspensions imposed on them? The front office? Managers and/or coaches? Players???

Manfred said. “The general warning that I issued to the clubs, I stand by. It certainly could be all those things. But my authority under the major league constitution would be broader than those things, as well.” via Ryan Gaydos of FoxNews

I closely monitor social media and anything Astros related, I know what you, as fans, are saying. “They haven’t proved anything yet.” “What about all of the other teams that were doing the same thing?” I hear you. I get it.

But Major League Baseball is squarely focused on the Astros and nobody else right now. As much as I hate to say it, Houston is going to end up being the scapegoat in all of this and they’re the ones who are going to be made the example going forward.

“I’m not going to speculate on whether other people are going to be involved. We’ll deal with that if it happens. I have no reason to believe that it extends beyond the Astros at this point in time.” said Rob Manfred. via Justin Tasch of the New York Post

My concern is how this could influence the Astros’ offseason. Will possible free agents think twice before considering coming to Houston? I worry about the farm system and its future prospects, or rather the lack thereof. I fret the coherence of the organization, the coaching staff, and the players may be in jeopardy.

It’s that time of year. The “Hot Stove” season is here and free agency is alive and well. Over 100 players are on the market and teams are scrambling to fill their needs. Every franchise has members of their front office contacting players and their agents. They’ll be negotiating salaries and trying to sell their organizations to players in their attempt to convince them their team is where they belong.

The Astros have eight players of their own up for grabs. Two starting pitchers, including Gerrit Cole, four relievers and both of their starting catchers from last season have all declared themselves as free agents. So, needless to say, the Astros have a lot of holes to fill themselves.

But with a dark cloud hanging over Houston and the media already pounding the gavel, I wonder if all of this could possibly have any bearing on a player’s decision on which uniform to don in 2020.

Would a player want to sign with a team when there is so much uncertainty about the future? If there are some suspensions doled out, they could be playing for a different manager or coach than they envisioned.

Do they want to wear the uniform of a team with a tarnished reputation? And I’m sorry, but whether they’re found guilty or not, a stain has already been cast on them that will take a while to wash out.

These and many other questions and concerns could weigh on a player’s mind when making a big decision on their career. Some might say it’s just the almighty dollar they’re after and none of this will matter. But I can’t help but think there are quite a few players out there that take a lot more into consideration than a paycheck when it comes to deciding on their future.

Lastly, I’m concerned about the possibility of suspensions that could be handed down to those that were supposedly in the know (if there’s anything to know). Worse yet, could some heads roll in the front office or the clubhouse of key personnel?

Again, if, and I emphasize if, any improprieties took place, how far up the chain were people involved or were aware of what was happening? Who in the dugout was in on it? I can’t imagine, if there was this alleged monitor watching and trash can banging going on, how could anyone not be aware?

The front office has done an amazing job getting the Astros to where they are today. Jeff Luhnow and Co. have seemed to pull off some type of miracle every season to get them over the hump. If some of these men and women end up with significant suspensions or lose their jobs in the process, it surely would have some type of negative affect.

What if, God forbid, AJ Hinch or Brent Strom get caught up in this and are levied lengthy suspensions. How could that not adversely affect the tight cohesive bond that is so important to a winning climate? Hinch is the glue in that dugout and is no doubt a key part of the Astros success. Losing him for any period of time could be detrimental to the clubhouse environment and we all know the benefits of Strom to that pitching staff.

How many players could get tangled up in this? They are reportedly interviewing players from the team, past, and present. They are apparently promising players that if they are honest, the League will be “lenient” on them. What the heck is lenient?? Can you imagine the impact if Bregman or Altuve are suspended?

I don’t know what the outcome of this MLB investigation into the Astros sign-stealing saga will be. But I just have a bad feeling they are somehow going to make an example out of Houston. I think the problem goes way beyond just the Astros and it’s probably been a systemic problem for a while. But Rob Manfred and the MLB are going to have to save face and I’m afraid the Houston Astros are going to be the ones to suffer the most, guilty or not.

I hate to be the “Donnie Downer”, but if these penalties are severe enough, as Manfred alludes to, the Astros reign at the top may be a short-lived one and could be a long road back to the top.