Astros Fire AJ Hinch, Jeff Luhnow

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Published on January 14 2020 6:41 am
Last Updated on January 14 2020 10:28 am

The Houston Astros fired manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow Monday after they were suspended for the 2020 season by Major League Baseball in the team's sign-stealing scandal. Houston was also fined $5 million and will forfeit their next two first- and second-round draft picks.

MLB found that during the Astros' World Series-winning 2017 season and in 2018 they used the video feed from a centerfield camera at home games to steal the opposing catcher's signs, and then players banged on a trash can to signal batters what pitch was coming. Commissioner Rob Manfred said Boston Red Sox managerAlex Cora, who was the Astros' bench coach in 2017, developed the system, and strongly hinted Cora will also face tough punishment.