Several weeks of speculation gave way to clarity this week when Major League Baseball announced the findings from their investigation into the Houston Astros and levied forth penalties against the organization.
The Astros received a $5 million — the maximum amount permitted under the Major League constitution — and general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch were suspended for the 2020 season, plus the team forfeited first- and second-round draft picks for the next two years.
Astros owner Jim Crane was absolved through the investigation, and he promptly fired Luhnow and Hinch. The domino effect reached the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, as the clubs parted with respective managers Alex Cora and Carlos Beltran.