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Stanton: I would've hit 80 HRs in '17 if I knew what pitches were coming

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / Getty

New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton is the latest player to sound off on the Houston Astros for their 2017 sign-stealing scheme that has dominated headlines this winter.

Stanton swatted 59 home runs while batting .281/.376/.631 en route to NL MVP honors as a member of the Miami Marlins in 2017. On Wednesday, he said he would have done even better if he knew what pitches were coming.

"If I knew what was coming in 2017, I would have hit 80 home runs," Stanton said, according to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

More pointedly, he chided Astros players for their lack of remorse and lack of transparency while addressing the scandal since the commissioner's report was released in January.

"They didn't have a problem being in front of the cameras and enjoying all the lights when they were doing it in '17, and now they have to explain themselves and point fingers and this guy's talking for this guy," Stanton added.

Teammate Aaron Judge similarly torched the Astros on Tuesday, admitting he deleted a social media post congratulating Jose Altuve for winning the 2017 AL MVP award once news of the cheating surfaced.

Stanton echoed Judge on Wednesday, insisting Houston's World Series win should be vacated, according to Erik Boland of Newsday.

Yankees players aren't the only ones calling for the Astros' championship to be stripped. Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis and Los Angeles Dodgers stars Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner are among those who have similarly voiced their displeasure with Houston and its players in recent days.

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