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Former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow has filed a lawsuit against the team in Houston, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. Luhnow alleges that Astros owner Jim Crane and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred made him the “organization scapegoat” after the team’s sign theft scandal was discovered.
In the lawsuit, Luhnow claims the investigation was not an investigation at all, but rather a “bargaining resolution” which “allowed the team to retain their World Series championship (2017), made great efforts to publicly exonerate Crane and scapegoat Luhnow for a sign-stealing scandal he had no knowledge of and played no part in. “
It is true that Manfred went to great lengths to exonerate Crane – the very first paragraph of Manfred’s nine-page report detailing the investigation indicates that Crane was not aware of the scheme – although Luhnow faces a uphill battle to convince anyone that they had no knowledge of the scheme. . Among others, he was made aware of the team’s sign-stealing algorithm in 2016.
Here is more information on the trial, via Shaikin:
“The commissioner discussed potential sanctions with Crane, and the two exchanged a series of proposals,” the suit read. “These negotiations have proven to be beneficial for Crane and the Astros.
“The commissioner allowed the Astros to retain their 2017 World Series championship, fined $ 5 million (a fraction of the revenue Crane had reaped from the team’s recent success) and won four draft pick. He also issued a general justification for Crane, exonerating him of any liability for failure to supervise his club.
Plus, Crane and the Astros were sure to field a contending team in 2020 – the team qualified for the American League Championship series for the fourth year in a row – because the commissioner did not suspend nor penalized any of the players directly involved in the scandal. “
Luhnow recently asserted his innocence in a TV interview, saying, “I didn’t know we were cheating. I had no idea. I wasn’t involved.” Manfred responded by saying that the MLB investigation revealed “direct testimony” to Luhnow’s involvement in the scheme.. Additionally, Manfred warned all 30 teams in 2017 that the CEO would be held accountable for sign theft offenses.
The viability of the Luhnow trial is unclear. Manfred and other MLB executives are unlikely to want to be sworn in about their investigation into the sign theft scandal, which could facilitate a settlement. The lawsuit could also be dismissed entirely if Luhnow’s original claims prove unconvincing. I know that: it won’t be the last we hear about it.
Earlier this year, MLB suspended Luhnow and former Astros manager AJ Hinch for a year over the scandal, and Crane sacked the two shortly after. The team were also fined $ 5 million, the maximum allowed under the MLB Constitution, and stripped of four high draft picks. No player has been suspended for promising immunity in exchange for honest testimony.
Luhnow has been connected to numerous front office openings in recent weeks, including the Angels. Pursuing the Astros doesn’t seem to bode well for his chances of returning to the game, but keep in mind that Alex Rodriguez has chased everyone in sight (MLB, MLBPA, Manfred, Yankees, etc.) as a result. of his performance-enhancing drug suspension in 2014, yet he’s still heavily involved in the sport.
Luhnow, 53, joined the Astros in December 2011. The lawsuit says he signed a multi-year contract extension in 2018 that guaranteed him more than $ 31 million and included performance and profit sharing bonuses. Luhnow says the alleged breach of contract cost him more than $ 22 million in compensation.
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