Astros fire assistant GM Brandon Taubman for taunting female reporters

The Houston Astros have done a 180 and have now fired assistant GM Brandon Taubman.

The team announced in a statement on Thursday that they have terminated Taubman after doing a more thorough investigation into the matter.

The Astros just announced that they have terminated assistant GM Brandon Taubman's employment. Here's the full statement: pic.twitter.com/4TslyAeOW1

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) October 24, 2019

In their statement, the Astros said they initially defended Taubman based on his account of what happened. However, they say after doing more investigating and speaking with other reporters, they learned Taubman was targeting female reporters when he celebrated the team’s acquisition of Roberto Osuna.

The incident became public when Sports Illustrated reported on Monday night that Taubman taunted female reporters after the Astros clinched the AL pennant on Saturday night. In the clubhouse, Taubman reportedly shouted a few times how happy he was the Astros got relief pitcher Roberto Osuna. Osuna was on suspension for a domestic violence charged (that was later dropped after the woman did not cooperate with police) when the Astros acquired him in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Astros initially issued a statement disputing SI’s report, but they issued new statements a day later after initially being met with public criticism. Matters changed after a report by NPR on Tuesday said that Taubman was targeting one of the women, who expressed concern over Osuna in the past. Further, numerous reporters confirmed SI’s account of the events, disputing Taubman’s.

Taubman had been with the Astros since 2013.

Here is LBS’ video published on Tuesday about the matter: