Report: Former Astros GM Luhnow sues team for breach of contract

Former baseball executive Jeff Luhnow sued the Houston Astros for breach of contract Sunday, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.

Luhnow's lawsuit alleges Astros owner Jim Crane and Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred worked together to paint him as a scapegoat for Houston's illegal sign-stealing scandal, in turn costing him more than $22 million in guaranteed salary after the organization fired him.

The suit, filed in Texas district court in Houston, claims his contract was breached because Luhnow did nothing to warrant dismissal.

Luhnow's suit also claims MLB's investigation was more like a "negotiated resolution" between Crane and Manfred, which cleared Houston's owner of any wrongdoing and allowed the Astros to keep their 2017 World Series title, Shaikin adds.

MLB's investigation into Houston's sign-stealing claimed Luhnow denied having any knowledge of the illegal activity but also provided evidence showing otherwise, including an email to him referencing "our dark-arts, sign-stealing department."

Luhnow's suit claims three documents used in MLB's investigation to implicate him didn't include the use of "in-game electronic sign-stealing," the infraction in question.

The 53-year-old Luhnow hasn't worked in baseball since he was suspended by MLB and subsequently fired by the Astros last January.

Meanwhile, AJ Hinch and Alex Cora have recently been re-hired as managers after both were suspended and lost their jobs for their involvement in the sign-stealing scandal.