During a press conference just hours after Major League Baseball announced the punishment for stealing signs, Astros’ owner Jim Crane told media he hired manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow.
Both Hinch and Luhnow were suspended for a year by baseball, though Luhnow decided to simply move on. “Neither one of them started this, but neither one of them did anything about it.”
Crane went on to say he didn’t think the sign stealing and punishments, taint the Astros’ 2017 World Championship.
“We need to move forward with a clean slate and the Astros will become a stronger organization because of this today.”
The Astros have been stripped of their first and second round picks for 2020 and 2021. They were also fined the maximum $5 million. Red Sox manager Alex Cora‘s punishment in connection with the Astros’ illegal sign stealing will wait until the league finishes their investigation into Boston’s own allegations.
Mets manager Carlos Beltran, an Astros player at the time and only player mentioned in Major League Baseball’s report, will not face discipline from the league for his involvement.
