Major League Baseball levied unprecedented penalties against the Houston Astros upon determining they stole signs en route to winning the 2017 World Series and the following season. Yet, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has faced mounting pressure to impose more punishments.
Specifically to strip the Astros of their title. As it is, Manfred fined the organization $5 million (maximum amount permitted), suspended general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch, and took away first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 MLB Drafts.
Astros owner Jim Crane promptly fired Luhnow and Hinch, and the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets parted with Alex Cora and Carlos Beltran, respectively.