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Houston Astros and Jeff Luhnow swing deal to dismiss lawsuit
Feb 5, 2021, 3:53 pm
Luhnow was set to be paid $31 million. Photo by Getty Images.
Jim Crane says Luhnow wants to make a couple more moves
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.
Continue on CultureMap to learn more.
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Fred VanVleet scored 37 points and the surging Houston Rockets won their ninth straight, beating the Miami Heat 102-98 Friday night.
VanVleet shot 13 for 17 from the field and made a season-high 9 of 11 3-pointers as the Rockets extended the league’s longest active winning streak. Houston also snapped a nine-game skid against Miami, which lost its 10th straight. It is the Heat’s longest skid since they lost 11th straight in 2007-08.
Amen Thompson returned after missing the last six games because of a sprained left ankle and finished with 18 points and seven steals while Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith each added 11 points for the Rockets.
Houston rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the third quarter and got to 80-78 on Jalen Green’s jumper to close the period.
Miami’s Andrew Wiggins scored 30 points, his highest total since the Heat acquired him from Golden State for Jimmy Butler on Feb. 6. Kel’el Ware had 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo also scored 16 points for the Heat.
Takeaways
Rockets: Houston remained second in the Western Conference.
Heat: Miami squandered its 20th double digit lead that led to a loss. Wiggins’ jump shot two minutes into the third period put the Heat ahead 65-54 before Houston rallied.
Key moment
VanVleet went on a personal 9-2 run to start the fourth that put the Rockets ahead for good. He hit two 3-pointers, a lay-up and made 1 of 2 free throws that gave Houston an 87-84 lead.
Key stat
The Rockets outrebounded the Heat 46-34 for their eighth consecutive game of winning the rebounding edge against their opponent.
Up next
Rockets host Denver on Sunday, and Heat host Charlotte.