Blue Jays' Giles would return Astros WS ring if asked: 'It just hurts'
Ken Giles won a World Series with the Houston Astros three years ago, though he's not looking at it the same way anymore.
Giles - now the Toronto Blue Jays' closer - addressed the sign-stealing scandal that left a stain on the 2017 Astros' accomplishment, and stated that he'd return his World Series ring if Major League Baseball asked him to do so.
"It just hurts," the 29-year-old told Rosie DiManno of the Toronto Star on Friday. "If they want it back, I'll be true to whatever needs to be done.
"Whatever they ask, I would oblige," he continued. "Because what was going on at the time was not OK."
Giles played a significant role in the 2017 Astros' success. During that season, he emerged as their ace closer by posting a 2.30 ERA and 178 ERA+ while saving a career-high 34 games.
However, he was shelled in the playoffs to the tune of an 11.74 ERA and 2.22 WHIP in just 7 2/3 postseason innings. After taking the loss in Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Giles was removed as Houston's closer and went unused over the series' final three games.
From there, Giles' relationship with the Astros quickly disintegrated. After a rough start to 2018 that included an infamous on-field meltdown and a demotion to the minors, Houston shipped him to Toronto for All-Star reliever Roberto Osuna. A few months later, Giles admitted to feeling "trapped" and "out of place" while in Houston.
Giles, who crafted a sparkling 1.87 ERA in Toronto last year, said Friday that he was in the dark about what Astros hitters were doing to steal signs. The scheme involved a center-field camera and the banging of a trash can to alert hitters of what pitch was coming.
"I was not aware about anything," Giles said. "It crushed me to learn about the stuff that went on when I was there. I had no idea. I had no clue whatsoever. I was blindsided by the commissioner's report. Up until then, I honestly didn't believe it. Just crazy."
While there have been many calls for the Astros to vacate their 2017 title - the only World Series win in the franchise's history - MLB elected not to take such action. All of the players interviewed in commissioner Rob Manfred's investigation were granted immunity by the league.
Astros stars Jose Altuve - the 2017 AL MVP - and Alex Bregman both issued brief apologies earlier in spring training.