I am one that has always believed in granting a second chance and that applies to two of the three culprits involved with the Houston Astros sign cheating scandal that rocked baseball.

AJ Hinch, a key culprit of the scandal, gets a second chance and assumes managerial duties with the Tigers. Today, Alex Cora got another chance and is back in the dugout for the Red Sox.

Though, it was always thought that Cora was caught up in the mess and was on a temporary hiatus with an imminent return to Boston as a favorite of the players and to many fans after their 2018 World Series title .

Carlos Beltran, the third culprit is very quiet. Beltran has not been seen or heard from after the Mets thought they had a manager and was caught up in this mess. 

Which leads to Beltran, a fan favorite and does he deserve another chance? With the circumstances at hand, Beltran is also caught in the middle of a scandal that has diminished, with Hinch and Cora back in command, of course a second opportunity should come.

But the Mets moved on from Carlos Beltran. Luis Rojas has a multi-year contract as the manager and it’s unfair to evaluate that rookie season. He needs a 162-game season to evaluate his future.

Regardless, those in baseball have seen the developments over the past week and the hirings of Hinch and Cora have displayed a will to provide a second chance. And Carlos Beltran is no exception .

He deserves that second chance. But that won’t happen for the Mets right now in a managerial capacity. Perhaps, with the Steve Cohen sale to the Mets in the books, there could be room for Carlos Beltran in some capacity as a coach, adviser, or in the front office.

A source Friday said, Sandy Alderson is in place and putting some pieces together with free agency moves and evaluating the roster. But  the status of GM Brodie Van Wagenen is uncertain. That is first and foremost.

The source also said Alderson respects the baseball mind of Carlos Beltran. So keep that in consideration about that second chance and a possible role for Carlos Beltran under the new hierarchy at Citi Field. 

Remember, Beltran got caught in the middle of that championship Astros team. And in the middle of this was Alex Cora, the bench coach for Hinch. Back in January, when the Beltran developments unfolded, it was another nightmare for Mets baseball.

Closure of sorts was the anointment of Luis Rojas. Closure for Carlos Beltran would be getting that second chance with the Mets ,though it has always been believed, the former and beloved Met was a victim of circumstance. 

Beltran signed a three-year contract and was introduced before a packed media presence at Citi Field. 

 Then, Carlos Beltran was implicated from the MLB investigation and report. But so were dozens of others among the 2017 Houston Astros involved with the sign-stealing situation that rocked Major League Baseball.

The findings and determination of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said, “Assessing discipline of players for this type of conduct is both difficult and impractical.”

Mandfred added, “I am not in  position based on the investigative record to determine with any degree of certainty every player who should be held accountable.”

That statement, though, applied to Carlos Beltran. His final year as a player resulted in his first World Series ring, a championship that was tarnished along with the Black Sox, Pete Rose, and steroid scandals that have become a part of baseball annals. 

And as the months passed, Carlos Beltran remained quiet after his record and brief managerial tenure with the Mets. He was never the spokesperson, though never shy to speak before the media after a win or tough loss. 

Carlos Beltran has a baseball mentality. He deserves a second chance. Hinch and Cora were granted the chance. Steve Cohen, Sandy Alderson, make that call.

But the best closure is to hear from Carlos Beltran. Do it now, tomorrow, next week.  And we all need to know, is Carlos Beltran in good standing with the Mets’ hierarchy?

Time for Carlos Beltran to step up to the plate. Until we hear from him, there is no closure. The Meta of course, could contemplate and make the first call.