Carlos Beltran will not coach a game for the New York Mets this season after MLB’s investigation into the Houston Astro’s sign stealing allegations implicated the former nine-time All Star as an integral part of the scheme. He is the third manager to lose his job this week after being mentioned by name in commissioner Rob Manfred’s statement. AJ Hinch was fired by the Astro’s and suspended for one year by the MLB Monday and Alex Cora was fired by the Red Sox Tuesday.

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“We met with Carlos last night and again this morning and agreed to mutually part ways,” Mets owner Jeff Wilpon and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said in a statement. “Considering the circumstances, it became clear to all parties that it was not in anyone’s best interest for Carlos to move forward as Manager of the New York Mets.”

Beltran said in a statement, “At a meeting this morning with Jeff [Wilpon] and Brodie [Van Wagenen] we mutually agreed to part ways. I’m grateful to them for giving me the opportunity, but we agreed this decision is in the best interest of the team. I wish the entire organization success in the future.”

Beltran had served as a special adviser to Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman in 2019 before taking the Mets’ job. He had been hired in November two weeks before The Athletic’s report of sign stealing allegations was released and was the only player on the roster mentioned.

In another statement obtained by MLB media members, Beltran claimed, “Over my 20 years in the game, I’ve always taken pride in being a leader and doing things the right way, and in this situation, I failed. As a veteran player on the team, I should’ve recognized the severity of the issue and truly regret the actions that were taken. I am a man of faith and integrity and what took place did not demonstrate those characteristics that are so very important to me and my family. I am very sorry. It’s not who I am as a father, a husband, a teammate and as an educator. The Mets organization and I mutually agreed to part ways, moving forward for the greater good with no further distractions. I hope that at some point in time, I’ll have the opportunity to return to this game that I love so much.”

There are high expectations for the Mets following a season that saw rookie Pete Alonso hit .260 with 53 home runs and 120 RBIs, as well as a consecutive Cy Young Award for Jacob DeGrom. The organization also made acquisitions to bolster its pitching staff that included Michael Wacha, Rick Porcello and Dellin Betances. Now, New York must scramble to find a replacement with less than a month before spring training starts.

Red Sox Manager Alex Cora was fired Tuesday after the team was made aware of his involvement in sign stealing during his time as a bench coach for the Houston Astros in 2017. He is currently being investigated for doing the same thing during the 2018 World Series with Boston.

On Tuesday a statement provided by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred implicated Cora’s wrongdoing.

“Early in the season, Alex Cora, the Astros’ Bench Coach, began to call the replay review room on the replay phone to obtain the sign information. On at least some occasions, the employees in the replay review room communicated the sign sequence information by text message, which was received on the smart watch of a staff member on the bench, or in other cases on a cell phone stored nearby. Approximately two months into the 2017 season, a group of players, including Carlos Beltrán, discussed that the team could improve on decoding opposing teams’ signs and communicating the signs to the batter. Cora arranged for a video room technician to install a monitor displaying the center field camera feed immediately outside of the Astros’ dugout. (The center field camera was primarily used for player development purposes and was allowed under MLB rules at the time when used for that purpose.) Witnesses have provided largely consistent accounts of how the monitor was utilized. One or more players watched the live feed of the center field camera on the monitor, and after decoding the sign, a player would bang a nearby trash can with a bat to communicate the upcoming pitch type to the batter. (Witnesses explained that they initially experimented with communicating sign information by clapping, whistling, or yelling, but that they eventually determined that banging a trash can was the preferred method of communication.) Players occasionally also used a massage gun to bang the trash can. Generally, one or two bangs corresponded to certain off-speed pitches, while no bang corresponded to a fastball. Witnesses consistently describe this new scheme as player-driven, and with the exception of Cora, non-player staff, including individuals in the video replay review room, had no involvement in the banging scheme. However, witnesses made clear that everyone proximate to the Astros’ dugout presumptively heard or saw the banging.”

The Red Sox issued a statement Tuesday following Cora’s dismissal. “We collectively decided that it would not be possible for Alex to effectively lead the club going forward and we mutually agreed to part ways. This is a sad day for us. Alex is a special person and a beloved member of the Red Sox. We are grateful for his impact on our franchise. We will miss his passion, his energy and his significant contributions to the communities of New England and Puerto Rico,” said Red Sox owner John Henry.

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Cora also issued a statement via the Red Sox which read, “We agreed today that parting ways was the best thing for the organization. I do not want to be a distraction to the Red Sox as they move forward.” Cora leaves Boston with a 192-132 record and a World Series title in 2018. The league’s investigation of Boston’s alleged sign stealing is ongoing and more information will be reported when available.

Three MLB managers are expected to be interviewed as part of the league’s investigation into the Astros’ alleged sign-stealing practices: Houston’s A.J. Hinch, the Mets’ Carlos Beltran and the Boston Red Sox’ Alex Cora.

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Hinch was the Astros’ manager in 2017, while Cora served as the team’s bench coach and Beltran was a designated hitter and center-fielder for Houston that year, which marked his final season as an MLB player. According to The Athletic, the three managers are believed to have played a major role in the scandal, which revolved around the Astros’ use of electronic devices to steal signals from other teams during the 2017 season that culminated in them winning the World Series. The Athletic reported that two years ago, Houston’s players allegedly attempted to decipher opposing team’s signs and then hit a garbage can in the dugout to notify their pitchers of an impending off-speed throw. The Astros reportedly used a TV monitor near the dugout steps that provided a feed of center field at Minute Maid Park. MLB rules dictate that sign-stealing is permitted as long as electronic devices like TV monitors and cameras are not used.

According to CBS Sports, Beltran denied using prohibited electronic devices to steal signals and said any such scheme happened legally. Cora told reporters on Thursday that he refused to comment on the controversy until the investigation was finished.

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Incidentally enough, the Red Sox also engaged in a sign-stealing plot in 2017 that included the use of Apple Watches. The team was fined an undisclosed amount. However, Cora did not join the team as manager until 2018.

According to ESPN, other figures MLB is set to interview as part of the probe into the Astros’ sign-stealing include former Houston assistant GM Brandon Taubman and the Red Sox’ Craig Bjornson, who was a bullpen coach for the Astros in 2017.