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Ex-GM Jeff Luhnow sues Houston Astros

By Adam Taylor McKillop

Houston Astros GM Jeff Luhnow, and other members of his team, met with reporters outside of the West Wing Portico of the White House, on Monday, March 12, 2018. (Photo by Cheriss May) (Photo by Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Houston Astros GM Jeff Luhnow, and other members of his team, met with reporters outside of the West Wing Portico of the White House, on Monday, March 12, 2018. (Photo by Cheriss May) (Photo by Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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Former Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the club on Monday.

Less than a year after MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred handed out punishments for the Houston Astros recent sign-stealing scandal, the drama lives on.

On Monday, former Astros GM Jeff Luhnow filed a lawsuit against the club, citing breach of contract. Houston fired its former GM on January 13, 2020, the same day his one-year suspension was handed down from the league.

Luhnow is now seeking $22 million in damages from this breach of contract, alleging his firing was organized between Astros owner Jim Crane and the league office. According to the allegations, Luhnow’s firing allowed the Astros to retain its 2017 World Series title.

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According to the filed lawsuit, Luhnow and his attorneys argue that he was “scapegoated” for the sign-stealing scandal of which he “possessed no knowledge about.”

That argument remains in contention. Nonetheless, Luhnow is seeking restitution in the form of $22 million of “guaranteed compensation.” Luhnow signed a multi-year contract with Houston on May 24, 2018, that was scheduled to pay him more than $31 million in guaranteed compensation.

It could definitely be argued that Luhnow was used as a scapegoat in the aftermath of this sign-stealing scandal. Of course, both the Astros and the entire league opted to hang punishments and consequences on the heads of team officials rather than players involved in the scandal.

Notably, former manager AJ Hinch was subsequently fired on the same day his one-year suspension was handed down from the MLB.  Alex Cora, former bench coach for the Astros, was also given a one-year suspension and immediately let go of his duties as the Boston Red Sox manager.

Both Hinch and Cora have found work again. Cora was reintroduced as the Red Sox manager last week and the Detroit Tigers hired Hinch as its new manager.

Notably, no Astros players received any sort of punishment for involvement in the scandal, despite somewhat convincing evidence of player involvement.

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For now, the MLB has declined to comment on Luhnow’s lawsuit against the Houston Astros.

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