Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer: 'Multiple parties' said Astros wore buzzers under jerseys

Never one to shy away from expressing his opinions on social media, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer on Thursday gave a persistent rumor about the Houston Astros' sign-stealing operation some credibility.

An MLB investigation determined that in 2017, the Astros signaled the type of pitches opponents were throwing by banging on a trash can outside the dugout.

However, Bauer tweeted Thursday he's heard "from multiple parties" that the system evolved beyond the trash can noises to players wearing buzzers inside their uniforms.

Thursday afternoon, MLB told the New York Post that the league "explored wearable devices during the investigation but found no evidence to substantiate it,” including during the 2019 season.

Bauer's comment came in response to a since-deleted tweet from someone claiming to be the niece of former Astros outfielder Carlos Beltran – whose family denies they are related to the person who operates the account.

As apparent evidence the Astros' misdeeds continued into the 2019 playoffs, a number of social media accounts have highlighted Jose Altuve's walk-off home run in Game 6 of last year's American League Championship Series.

As Altuve rounded the bases and his teammates crowded around home plate, he refused to let them tear off his jersey, as often happens when a player hits a game-winning home run.

In an on-field interview, Fox's Ken Rosenthal asked Altuve why he didn't want his teammates to tear off his jersey. He said it was because he was "too shy" and then joked that when it happened the last time he had a game-winning hit, "I got in trouble with my wife."