MLB Expected to Smack Astros With 'Harsh' Penalties for Sign-Stealing Within Next 2 Weeks

The Houston Astros have been dreading it. But the day of reckoning is finally close at hand.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, discipline for the Astros' intricate system of sign-stealing over multiple seasons could come within the next two weeks -- and the punishment could include several lengthy suspensions.

Discipline against the Houston Astros for using technology to cheat is likely to come within the next two weeks, sources familiar with the situation tell ESPN, and those in the crosshairs expect it to be harsh. Long suspensions are likely. News at ESPN: https://t.co/wYSUhGSdvB
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 7, 2020

Houston's punishment is understood to be be meant as a deterrent against teams potentially considering similar rule-breaking for a competitive advantage in the future.

The Astros were infamously caught using both extremely sophisticated means of cheating via the help of electronic devices, as well as the most basic methods, like banging on a trash cans to alert hitters of an upcoming offspeed pitch. Now, the chickens are coming home to roost.

Notably, the Boston Red Sox could be next to find themselves in the league's crosshairs following Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich's report that stated they used a video replay room to pick up on opposing teams' signs in their 2018 World Series championship season.

This is now the 2017 World Series champions and 2018 World Series champions who have been linked to cheating. While the accusation against the Astros is more serious — the “everyone did it” cries tend to involve replay-room codebreaking — that’s a bad look for the sport.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 7, 2020

Sign-stealing might be a long-standing practice in baseball, but MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is finally starting to take a hardline stance against it. The Astros (and potentially the Red Sox) should prepare for the worst as the league looks to make an example out of them at long last.