Luhnow denies involvement, knowledge of Astros' sign-stealing

Former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow issued a statement on Monday following his dismissal from the team in relation to the 2017 sign-stealing scandal.

According to the statement obtained by Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal, Luhnow says he was unaware of the conduct of his players and coaches.

"I'm not a cheater," Luhnow wrote. "Anybody who has worked closely with me during my 32-year career inside and outside baseball can attest to my integrity. I did not know rules were being broken. As the commissioner set out in his statement, I did not personally direct, oversee or engage in any misconduct: The sign-stealing initiative was not planned or directed by baseball management; the trash-can banging was driven and executed by players, and the video decoding of signs originated and was executed by lower-level employees working with the bench coach. I am deeply upset that I wasn't informed of any misconduct because I would have stopped it."

Current Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora was the bench coach involved, according to Major League Baseball's investigation. He is expected to face discipline for his role in the scandal.

Commissioner Rob Manfred states in the investigation that "the efforts involving the replay review room staff were mentioned in at least two emails sent to Luhnow, and there is conflicting evidence about conversations with Luhnow on the topic. Regardless of the level of Luhnow's actual knowledge, the Astros' violation of rules in 2017 and 2018 is attributable, in my view, to a failure by the leaders of the baseball operations department and the field manager to adequately manage the employees under their supervision."

Luhnow also said he accepts responsibility for the rules violations during his tenure.

In addition to Luhnow's and former Astros manager AJ Hinch's firings on Monday, the two will be suspended without pay from MLB through the end of the 2020 World Series.