By Bob Nightengale |
Major League Baseball dealt the most severe punishment against a team in its history Monday by suspending Houston Astros GM Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch for a year for their role in using electronic equipment to steal signs, while fining the organization $5 million and stripping them of first- and second-round draft picks in 2020-2021.
The message sent was clear: Baseball will not permit cheating in baseball, and the next organization that uses illegal electronic equipment will be dealt even a harsher penalty.
Manfred is also barring Astros assistant GM Brandon Taubman from MLB for at least a year for his comments to female reporters regarding Roberto Osuna during the playoffs.
Read Commissioner Rob Manfred’s decision here.
This article was republished with permission from the original publisher, USA Today. Follow Bob Nightengale on Twitter and Facebook.