Astros owner 'hated to see' Taubman fired for Osuna outburst

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane is regretful that former assistant general manager Brandon Taubman had to be dismissed after shouting "Thank God we got Osuna" at several female reporters in the team's clubhouse after Houston clinched the 2019 AL pennant.

The Astros acquired Roberto Osuna from the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 while he was serving a 75-game suspension for violating MLB's domestic violence policy.

"Brandon Taubman didn't commit domestic violence," Crane said, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports. "He just made a comment. It's nothing you can defend. He had a few cocktails. He was happy. There were people constantly coming at him over (Osuna), and he overreacted.

"Did he do the right thing? No. Everybody makes mistakes. But is he a good, genuine, decent person and smart kid? Absolutely.

"I hated to see him lose his job, but we had no choice."

The Astros' trade for Osuna was met with plenty of criticism due to the nature of the pitcher's suspension, and Crane said he was surprised the deal created as much controversy as it did.

"We didn't anticipate the Osuna thing would catch that much heat," Crane said. "But when it did, the players were concerned. I told the guys on our team, 'Listen, we made the decision. He paid his price. We think he deserves a second chance. If he screws up, he's out of here. You don't have to worry about it.'

"After that, it was fine. That's with the players. Not so much with the public. It was just a lightning rod of a subject."

Osuna, now 25, was arrested in Toronto and charged with assault in May 2018. The right-hander's charge was withdrawn that September after he agreed to a peace bond.