After a thorough investigation into the Houston Astros, Major League Baseball found the franchise guilty of electronically stealing signs during the 2017 season, and with that imposed various penalties.
The Astros were fined $5 million — the maximum amount permitted under the Major League constitution — general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch were suspended through the 2020 World Series, and the team forfeited first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 MLB Drafts.
Astros owner Jim Crane, who was absolved by MLB’s findings, promptly fired both Luhnow and Hinch. Early speculation had Houston likely turning internally, specifically to bench coach Joe Espada, to fill their managerial vacancy.