George Springer
More than any other player, Springer may have lost quickly and financially from the scandal.
He has been a key member of the team since the events of 2017, a season in which he was an All Star who got MVP votes. In January, Springer filed the largest claim of this arbitration season, seeking $22.5 million from the Astros.
The team countered at $17.5 million, meaning $5 million rode on the arbitration panel’s decision.
Following release of the commissioner’s report, Springer agreed to a negotiated compromise that will pay him $21 million. It would be easy to make the argument that once the commissioner’s report broke, Springer opted against pursuing his arbitration claim at a cost of $1.5 million.
Although Springer was not implicated by name in the scandal, his role as the team’s star center fielder and leadoff hitter brings all of his accomplishments under legitimate question.
In the aftermath of the events, Springer must have understand that he would have been grilled about his knowledge and role in the scandal, and although the meeting itself would have taken place in private, he would be a fool to assume that the statements he made would not be closely scrutinized.