Carlos Beltrán, general manager for Team Puerto Rico looks on prior to the start of the World Baseball Classic at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – Carlos Beltran will look out toward the crowd on the stage behind the Clark Sports Center on Sunday and it will be a bitter-sweet experience. He’ll be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame along with Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent.

It’s a singular moment, one Beltran wondered if he’d ever experience. He made it in his third try in January, receiving 84.2% of the 425 ballots filed by eligible members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Jones earned 78.4% of the vote. The baseline is 75%. Kent was elected last year by the 16-member Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.

“I thank God for that,” Beltran said in a Zoom call with BBWAA members this past Monday. “I appreciate all the reporters that voted for me. And for those who didn’t vote for me I also respect their perspective. How they made their judgment. That being said, I’m going to enjoy this moment. I’m going to continue to be who I am. I will continue to believe in baseball, share what I’ve learned and [take responsibility] for the good decisions and bad decisions I have made.”

The Astros Illegally Stole Signs And Beltran Was In The Middle Of It

Beltran was entangled in the Astros sign-stealing fiasco of 2017. That was a bad decision. The Astros defeated the Dodgers in a seven-game World Series that is forever tainted. The active players were given immunity to cooperate during the investigation that ensued. The coaches, manager and executives were not.

Beltran was no longer active. On Nov. 19, 2019, he was named manager of the New York Mets. Then he lost that chance. When Major League Baseball issued its scathing report on Jan. 13, 2020, Beltran was the only player named. He was retired and had fallen between the cracks.

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“The fact that I’m the only player mentioned is kind of weird,” Beltran said. “Sometimes it still gives me a bad taste in my mouth.”

Beltran, who played 20 seasons from 1998 to 2017 for seven teams including the Yankees and Mets, was pensive during his video session. His answers to questions were long and winding.

He outright admitted his part in the sign-stealing system, which is interesting. Since then, we haven’t heard much from the participants.

According to the MLB report, the Astros stole signs from the opposing catcher using a center field camera. Watching a live monitor in the tunnel from the dugout to the clubhouse at what is now called Daikin Park, players relayed the type of pitch to the hitter by banging trash can covers.

“I know I was part of that organization,” Beltran said. “I know I was part of that. I know as a team we got together to do what we did. But I’ve got to tell you this was not one player’s idea. It was a team being together from top to bottom to do something we felt was going to help us win.

“And we also felt that other organizations had their systems. We felt that our system was better than any other system in baseball.”

Beltran wasn’t suspended from baseball, but he never had a chance to manage the Mets. That chance could come again, but Beltran said, “I’ve got to think very deeply about what my next step is going to be.”

At the time, he knew he was toast.

“I felt that based on the report A.J. Hinch was going to be suspended. Alex Cora was going to be suspended. Jeff Luhnow was going to be suspended. And they’re going to allow Carlos Beltran to manage the Mets? I mean, that’s impossible.”

Beltran was replaced by Luis Rojas, who managed two seasons. MLB suspended Hinch, Luhnow, and Cora for a year, and their respective clubs fired them. Hinch as manager of the Astros, Luhnow as Houston’s general manager, and Cora as manager of the Red Sox. Hinch is now managing the Tigers. Cora was rehired and then fired again earlier this season by the Red Sox. Luhnow has never returned to baseball, but found his path in international soccer.

“I felt like mentioning Carlos Beltran in that report, that was my suspension,” Beltran said. “And that’s how I feel”

The whole incident had a major impact on Beltran’s life and affected his ability to make the Hall of Fame. There was a time he wondered if he’d even make it.

“It was a possibility,” Beltran said. “You know what? Everything is possibility in life. I have to say after the Astros situation happened, at the beginning, the first couple of years there were people who didn’t vote for me, but they voted for me after three years. The question will be what changed for them? What changed their mind to reward me to get elected to the Hall of Fame?”

Beltran Could Have Another Chance To Manage The Mets

Times change. People are sometimes forgiven for their transgressions. Beltran was the general manager of Team Puerto Rico in the last World Baseball Classic and is back with the Mets now as an advisor to owner Steve Cohen. In his current role he’s asked to offer his perspective on players, situations and strategies.

“Whatever comes up that’s related to winning,” he said.

Right now, that’s good enough for him. When the Mets were deciding the fate of recently-fired manager Carlos Mendoza, Beltran said his name was certainly in the mix. But he was friends with Mendoza, advised him, even became very fond of him.

“And yes, I had some conversations with a few people in the organization. And I don’t know, I didn’t feel it was the right thing for me to do,” Beltran said.

Cohen and general manager David Stearns went with Andy Green, the former Padres manager, and moved him out of the front office instead. Green is considered the interim. Whether that changes will be a decision for the offseason as the Mets continue to struggle. Beltran?

“Yes, I understand that my name has come up about being a manager and all that,” Beltran said. “Just like my name coming up for the Hall of Fame. I’m proud of that. I take that very positively. But I don’t know, man.”

Beltran will enjoy his Hall of Fame induction first.