By Nathan H. Seltzer, David Berman, Christopher D’Agostino and Nell Perks

On January 13, 2020, Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner, Robert D. Manfred, Jr., handed down significant punishment to the Houston Astros organization (the “Ballclub” or “team”), its General Manager Jeff Luhnow and Field Manager A.J. Hinch for sign-stealing by the Ballclub during the 2017 season and playoffs. In addition to a fine and forfeiting draft picks, the General Manager and Field Manager were suspended without pay, meaning they would miss a full season of baseball. Shortly after, the team’s owner, Jim Crane, fired them both, stating that “I have higher standards [ ], and I am going above and beyond MLB’s penalty,” and that while “[n]either one of them started this, [ ] neither one of them did anything about it. … We will not have this happen again on my watch.” Continue reading →