BACK ON BASE
Houston Astros and Jeff Luhnow swing deal to dismiss lawsuit
Former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and the team have made nice after a bitter dispute.
A lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice Friday, February 5 after both parties "resolved their differences," the Houston Chroniclereports. The suit arose from the fervor of a controversial sign-stealing scandal that cost Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch their jobs.
The jettisoned Luhnow sued the Astros in November 2020 for breach of contract after being suspended one season without pay. The suit called for more than $1 million in damages and claimed the team made him a scapegoat during the investigation.
According to the lawsuit, Luhnow was set to be paid $31 million in guaranteed compensation, in addition to performance bonuses and other benefits, CultureMap news partner ABC13 notes.
As fans may recall, the previous lawsuit filed in Harris County alleges that the investigation conducted by the Astros and Major League Baseball essentially vilified Luhnow, while keeping team owner Jim Crane's image pristine and preserved the team's 2017 championship. The suit adds that Luhmow had no knowledge or direction of the sign-stealing scandal that was eventually discovered. Instead, the suit alleges, the investigation was merely a "negotiated resolution" between Crane and MLB commissioner Robert Manfred.
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