Mike Fiers has been the center of the MLB offseason after he exposed the Astros for their participation in electronic sign-stealing back in 2017 during their World Series run.
However, as a result of blowing the whistle on Houston's wrongdoings, the A's pitcher has been subject to violent threats. But he says he's used to it.
“Whatever, I don’t care. I’ve dealt with a lot of death threats before. It’s just another thing on my plate,” Fiers told The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser on Thursday.
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Fiers' comments come two days after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred spoke to the media in Scottsdale, Ariz. and stressed the fact he would work to ensure the safety of Fiers.
While Fiers could be subject to retaliation by the Astros, he is trying to tune it out. He is doing his best to avoid social media and prepare for the season. He told The Athletic on Wednesday that he doesn't want extra security.
But the A's right-hander knows he can't prepare for what's going to happen, if anything will. But he did tell Slusser that he is fully aware he was equally a part of that Astros team that cheated in 2017.
“I said from the beginning, ‘I’m not away from this. I was part of that team, I was one of those guys,’ ” he said. “Suspensions, fines -- I’m willing to take as much punishment as they do. If they ask me to (return the World Series ring), it’s not the end of the world.”
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Those across the league have been open and honest in support of Fiers coming forward. Manfred himself said he did a service to the industry.
[RELATED: Fiers won't dwell on possible repercussions of Astros scandal]
But clearly, there still is a faction of fans, players, and former players who disagree.
Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz said Thursday he had an issue with how Fiers revealed the allegations, saying that the A's pitcher looked like a "snitch" for how he handled it.
Regardless, Fiers is concentrating on what he needs to do to have a successful 2020 campaign, a season that is filled with promise for Oakland.
Baseball has been the perfect distraction from it all.
