Carlos Beltrán was something of a baseball pariah when Steve Cohen completed his purchase of the Mets following the 2020 season.

The former All-Star outfielder had been named a year earlier as a significant contributor, if not the ringleader, in the sign-stealing scheme that helped the Astros win their first World Series. Under pressure amid the fallout, Beltrán resigned as Mets manager only 77 days after he was hired.

Beltrán’s Hall of Fame candidacy, despite a career in which he had produced numbers worthy of such consideration, was in jeopardy. His future in baseball was also in question.

Two seasons would pass after Cohen’s arrival before Beltrán, who had a relationship with general manager Billy Eppler from their time with the Yankees, was given a special assistant’s job with the Mets. Beltrán wasn’t very visible initially, but over the past two seasons has become more of a presence around the club.