Former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow deleted data from his cell phone during MLB's investigation into the team's sign-stealing scheme two years ago, according to The Athletic.
Luhnow claimed to only delete sensitive material involving his wife, though MLB found Luhnow deleted backup data and other information.
The development was part of an excerpt from Evan Drellich's forthcoming book about the Astros scandal.
"Your credibility is further impacted by the fact that you permanently deleted information from your phone and its backups in anticipation that my investigators would seek to search your phone," Manfred wrote to Luhnow. "You did not tell my investigators that you had done this until they confronted you about it in your second interview. While you explained that you were simply deleting sensitive personal photographs, I have no way to confirm that you did not delete incriminating evidence."
Among other disciplinary measures, MLB suspended Luhnow for one year as a result of the sign-stealing scandal.