Blue Jays should part ways with bench coach Dave Hudgens

The Toronto Blue Jays would be best suited to relieve hitting coach Dave Hudgens of his responsibilities following his involvement in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal.

Current Blue Jays bench coach Dave Hudgens was the Houston Astros hitting coach in 2017, he was also one of 68 people interviewed during Major League Baseballs investigation into the Astros sign-stealing scandal.

Hudgens fully cooperated with the investigation, however, the 63-year old is by no means admitting knowledge or taking responsibility for the cheating. It would be one thing if Hudgens was the pitching coach but he was in fact the hitting coach, the likelihood of him having no knowledge of the cheating is slim to none.

John Lott of The Athletic recently sat down with Hudgens at the Winter Fest festivities this past weekend. Unfortunately for Hudgens, his answers appeared very much scripted in the same manner that a recent interview with Alex Bregman was.

"“MLB did their investigation. It’s kind of up to them if they want to say what everybody said. But all I can say is that I cooperated with them. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a done deal.”"

When Lott asked Hudgens, how he possibly could not have heard banging on a trash can, the bench coach again deflected back to the investigation conducted by the MLB.

"“All I’m saying on that is that you’re going to have to talk to Major League Baseball. I was interviewed by them. If they want to say what anybody said, then that’s up to them. I was interviewed by them and talked to them and fully cooperated with them. They handed down what they thought was correct.”"

Hudgens tone and answers resemble very closely to that of Alex Bregman who did not show well in a recent interview a few days earlier.

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The Blue Jays brain trust would be best suited to call it a day on Hudgens and replace their bench coach before the start of the season. The last thing this team needs is Hudgens to be a distraction especially when he can’t even take ownership or answer questions truthfully about the alleged cheating.

Hudgens is doing his best to save his own bacon while letting the rest of the Astros coaching staff take the fall. Hudgens was the hitting coach and should be terminated accordingly just as A.J. Hinch, Alex Cora, Carlos Beltran, and Jeff Luhnow were.

Mark Shapiro needs to follow suit and do the right thing.