Cody Bellinger once accused Houston Astros and Jose Altuve of robbing deserving players and teams of winning by cheating

The Houston Astros' sign-stealing episode is one of the biggest MLB scandals to date. During the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the Astros used cameras to steal signs from opposing teams. Although several teams had suspected the Astros, who won the 2017 World Series, of stealing signs, the scandal only came to light in 2019.

After an investigation by MLB in 2020, the organization was fined $5 million and forced to give up future draft picks. Houston Astros owner Jim Crane also fired the team's field manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow. However, many still believe that the punishment was nothing more than a slap on the wrist.

One of those people is former Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger. In an interview in 2020, Bellinger said the Dodgers were robbed of the World Series title and New York Yankees' Aaron Judge was "cheated" out of the MVP award by the Astros' Jose Altuve.

"I thought the apologies were whatever. I thought Jim Crane was weak. I thought Maford's punishment was weak, giving them immunity."

Bellinger added:

“These guys were cheating for three years. I think what people don't realize is Altuve stole an MVP from Judge in '17. Everyone knows they stole the ring from us."

"Personally I lost respect for those guys" - Cody Bellinger

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Although MLB's investigation concluded that the Astros did not steal signs in the 2019 season, Cody Bellinger felt they did.

The Astros were accused of wearing electronic buzzers to be notified of pitches in 2019, with the incident involving Jose Altuve raising concerns. Altuve was spotted telling his teammates not to rip off his jersey after he hit a walk-off home run in the 2019 ALCS.

As such, Bellinger said he had lost all respect for the Astros organization.

"Personally I lost respect for those guys. I think I would say, everyone in the show. The bigwig lost respect for those guys... I don't know what human hits a walk-off home run against Aroldis Chapman to send your team to the World Series, and, one, has the thought to say, 'Don't rip my jersey off,' but, two, go into the tunnel, change your shirt, and then come out and do your interview. That makes no sense to me."