MLB Levies Astros Punishment

Last week reports came out that MLB was wrapping up its inquiry into the Astros sign stealing/trash can banging scandal and would bring about punishment soon. Today, that punishment was handed out.

The highlights:

• Astros GM Jeff Lunhow suspended for one year.
• Astros Manager AJ Hinch suspended for one year.
• Astros stripped of first and second round draft picks in the 2020 draft.
• Astros stripped of first and second round draft picks in the 2021 draft.

MLB hit the Astros in all but two areas, players and international signing bonus allotment. At this time there are no reports of players facing discipline, including now Mets manager Carlos Beltran.

One name seemingly about to be hit and hit hard is Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who was the bench coach on the cheating Astros team and has been implicated in a similar sign stealing scheme with his new team.

Personally I expected year long suspensions for Lunhow and Hinch but the draft pick damage was worst than I thought.

What are your thoughts?

UPDATE: Houston owner Jim Crane has fired both Lunhow and Hinch in the wake of MLB’s findings.

I would have canned Lunhow the second he walked into my office proposing the Osuna trade.