USA TODAY International Edition
Red Sox sign- stealing ‘ limited’
Major League Baseball, terming the Red Sox’s 2018 sign- stealing violations “far more limited in scope and impact” than the Astros’ malfeasance, suspended a video replay monitor for the 2020 season and barred him from serving in that role in 2021 and docked the club a 2020 second- round draft pick.
In his report released Wednesday, Commissioner Rob Manfred also suspended Alex Cora through the 2020 postseason, but only for his actions as Astros bench coach and not Red Sox manager. The Red Sox fired Cora in January, two days after Manfred imposed similar one- year bans on Astros GM Jeff Luhnow and manager A. J. Hinch, who were subsequently fired by the Astros.
The Astros won the World Series in 2017, and Manfred’s report indicated the sign stealing – involving the banned use of a camera, video monitor and trash cans to signal pitches to their batters – continued through the postseason.
In 2018, the Red Sox won 108 games and eventually the World Series, but MLB’s report indicated the rules- breaking ceased after the regular season. As many anticipated, the far less elaborate Red Sox rules flouting resulted in lighter punishment. The target: J. T. Watkins, who according to MLB’s investigations used his perch in the replay room to update players on opposing teams’ sign sequences in real time. Watkins provided players with pregame sign sequences based on video scouting, which is permissible, but in- game updates ran afoul of memos and rules imparted by Manfred and MLB chief baseball officer Joe Torre in 2017 and 2018.
In another significant break from the Astros scandal, Manfred ruled that Red Sox management consistently communicated to on- field staff directives against using electronics for stealing signs.