The Houston Astros just want to focus on baseball. Normally, that would be a common request from teams at this point in the year, but the Astros don’t have that luxury.

After an offseason where baseball main storyline was the Astros’ cheating scandal, opposing players have teed off on the Astros as camps have opened. As much as Astros players want to move on, they can’t.

So now they are getting defiant. Despite the scandal, the Astros are still expected to be an excellent team in 2020. They would much rather focus on that. And if they can belittle their opponents in the process, that’s even better.

Outfielder Josh Reddick is among that group. He believes the sign-stealing scandal will blow over once the Astros start beating teams again, according to the Washington Post.

“At some point, you have to move on and not give a s---,” outfielder Josh Reddick said, adding, “We're going to go out there and win and shut everybody up.”

Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. feels similarly, specifically calling out the most vocal critics of the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal.

“[The teams talking trash are] going to have to play us,” McCullers told The Washington Post. “Except for the guys who are popping off the most. “Those guys aren’t going to have to face us, which is maybe why they feel like they can speak like that,” McCullers continued. “But we’re moving on. That’s not what people may want to hear, but we stood here as men and we addressed [the scandal]. … We’re just looking forward to playing baseball again.”

When McCullers mentions “the guys who are popping off the most,” he’s likely referring to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Astros beat the Dodgers in the 2017 World Series, and Dodgers players have been justifiably angry about that.

20 PHOTOS Dodgers vs Astros World Series Game 7 See Gallery Dodgers vs Astros World Series Game 7 LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: A general view during the national anthem before game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Yu Darvish #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during the second inning against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is hit by a pitch during the third inning against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 1: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during Game 7 of the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astrosat Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts as he bats during the third inning against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 1: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros is congratulated by teammates as he returns to the dugout after hitting his second inning two-run home run during Game 7 of the 2017 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Francisco Liriano #46 of the Houston Astros pitches during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros steals third base during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts at second base during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers talks with Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros at second base during the sixth inning in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers breaks his bat and grounds out during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 1: Carlos Correa #1 and Yuli Gurriel #10 of the Houston Astros head back to the dugout during Game 7 of the 2017 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by LG Patterson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: The Los Angeles Dodgers watch the ninth inning from the top step against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Charlie Morton #50 of the Houston Astros celebrates after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in game seven with a score of 5 to 1 to win the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 1: Charlie Morton #50 and Brian McCann #16 of the Houston Astros celebrate after the Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alex TrautwigMLB Photos via Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Marwin Gonzalez #9, Alex Bregman #2, Jose Altuve #27, and Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros celebrate defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in game seven to win the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: The Houston Astros celebrate defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in game seven to win the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Nov 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel (10) celebrates after forcing out Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) in the 9th inning to win game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

Those comments won’t go over well with the rest of the league. Opposing players are already frustrated with the Astros’ lack of punishment and remorse for their roles in the sign-stealing scandal. The Astros responding with trash talk isn’t going to help the situation.

There’s been plenty of debate over how opposing teams will respond to the Astros once regular-season games start. While the league is doing everything in its power to discourage teams from retaliating, Astros players seem motivated to keep stoking those fires.

More from Yahoo Sports: