Over the weekend, Houston Astros players had a chance to be contrite over the electronic sign stealing scandal that led to the suspensions and subsequent firings of former general manager Jeff Lunhow and manager AJ Hinch.

Instead, the majority of their comments referred to the MLB investigation that led to the significant punishment doled out by commissioner Rob Manfred. Players, notably Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman, had little to say when asked about the scandal at Saturday's fan fest. The lack of anything resembling an apology rubbed some around the game the wrong way.

On Tuesday at the Houston sports award dinner where he was honored as executive of the year, owner Jim Crane acknowledged the lack of remorse and told reporters the team plans on apologizing once they can be on the same page at spring training.

"A couple of guys that have been interviewed, they've been holding back a little bit," Crane said. "We need to get them a little more time to get together in spring training. Everybody's split up (geographically).

"It's a team. We're going to sit in a room and talk about it and then we're going to come out and address the press — all of them will address the press — either as a group or individually. Quite frankly, we'll apologize for what happened, ask forgiveness and move forward."

MORE:As Astros empire collapses, players, executives must ponder one question: Was it worth it?

Crane added that he is close to hiring a new manager. Former Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister will interview Wednesday, while Dusty Baker, Buck Showalter and Eduardo Perez are also under consideration.

Appearing on Fox Business early Wednesday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the punishment served as a deterrent going forward.

SCANDALS:Other notable punishments through sports history

"What I said to the owners, is if I have some credible evidence that any other team was involved, they will be investigated with the same thoroughness that we investigated the Astros," he said.

"I think there's a long tradition in baseball of not trying to change what happened."

Regarding the ongoing Red Sox investigation, Manfred said "we don't know what the outcome of that is going to be."