Baseball is in the early stages of spring training, and it’s already clear that many fans don’t think MLB did enough to punish the Astros for their sign-stealing scandal. Astros players were not punished, and the team was allowed to keep the 2017 World Series title.
But if MLB were to change its tune — it won’t happen — and vacate that 2017 World Series title, one former Astros player would be more than willing to give back his championship ring.
Blue Jays reliever Ken Giles was the closer in Houston during the 2017 season, and in an interview with The Toronto Star, Giles said he would give back that ring if MLB asked.
“Whatever they ask, I would oblige,” Giles said. “Because what was going on at the time was not OK.”
Giles recorded 34 saves for the Astros in 2017 before he unraveled in the postseason, allowing 10 earned runs in 7.2 innings. The Astros ultimately benched Giles after Game 4 of the World Series, and he was sent to the minors the following season after cursing out then-manager A.J. Hinch.
Giles, though, claimed that he wasn’t aware of the cheating tactics given that he spent his time in the bullpen far from the dugout and wouldn’t have needed to participate as an American League pitcher. The scandal involved relaying signs to Astros batters by using a center-field monitor and trash can to relay the pitch.
“I was not aware about anything,” Giles said. “It crushed me to learn about the stuff that went on when I was there. I had no idea. I had no clue whatsoever. I was blindsided by the commissioner’s report. Up until then, I honestly didn’t believe it. Just crazy.”
He continued: “I was still pretty young. And at the end of the day, I had my own problems in Houston, which were well documented.”
Read more at usatoday.com
