Yankees' Zack Britton: Proposed Video Ban Punishes Everyone for Astros' Scandal

Major League Baseball has proposed that players be banned from accessing videos during games in the aftermath of the Houston Astros' illegal sign-stealing scandal, New York Yankees pitcher Zack Britton disclosed Wednesday.

Britton is not in favor of the idea.

"Right now, MLB's proposal would be like a blackout," the 32-year-old said, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "There would be no access. That's a pretty extreme stance because of one team, that everyone else is punished."

Britton continued: "So, hopefully, we can find some common ground, but definitely before Opening Day. Guys would like to understand what we're going to be allowed to use and what we're not going to be allowed to use before Opening Day."

MLBPA head Tony Clark met with the Yankees for three hours earlier Wednesday, the Associated Press report added, and discussed altered in-game video rules.

Clark offered insight as well:

"The view that the players have is one that is concerned about where the game is and where it's going. So everything that we've slid across the table in regards to proposals on technology has been a reflection of that. And that we've slid across includes access to technology, certain technology during the course of the game. There's systems that allow for access to your at-bats, and or your time on the mound. Having access to those videos even with certain criteria in place to protect the integrity of those videos is what has been in the proposals."

The Astros became the most-talked-about team in MLB after the league revealed on Jan. 13 its findings from an investigation into Houston's 2017 World Series-winning campaign. The organization was found to have used an outfield camera to illegally relay opponents' signs to batters during games throughout 2017 and at least part of 2018.

Commissioner Rob Manfred punished the Astros with a $5 million fine as well as the loss of first- and second-round draft picks for 2020 and '21. Then-manager AJ Hinch and then-general manager Jeffrey Luhnow each received a one-year suspension without pay, and the Astros fired them shortly after the findings were made public.

Countless players leaguewide have expressed disdain for the Astros' cheating, but Britton expressed frustration on a more macro scale on behalf of the Yankees:

"The stance of the guys pretty much in here is more frustration with MLB and the commissioner's office on the handling of that. The frustration lies with some of the issues with the teams filing complaints three or four years ago and nothing being done. At the same time as a team, we're more focused now on moving forward and try and win a World Series this year, which I think is the right mindset to have."

New York had complained to the league during last season's American League Championship Series that the Astros used blinking lights in center field during Game 6, SNY's Andy Martino reported after the Yankees lost the series to Houston in six games, though the league found no evidence the Astros were still cheating in 2019.