NEW YORK – The Boston Red Sox were stripped of their second-round pick in this year’s amateur draft by Major League Baseball for sign stealing in 2018, and former manager Alex Cora was suspended through the 2020 postseason for his previous conduct as bench coach with the Houston Astros.
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced his decision Wednesday, concluding Red Sox replay system operator J.T. Watkins broke rules by using in-game video to revise sign sequences provided to players. Watkins, who denied the allegations, was suspended without pay through this year’s postseason and prohibited from serving as the replay room operator through 2021.
The Red Sox won the 2018 World Series, but Manfred said the misdeeds didn’t occur during the postseason. He found Boston’s conduct far less egregious than that of the Astros, whom he determined used video to steal catchers’ signs during their run to the 2017 championship and again the following season.
Manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were suspended through the 2020 postseason on Jan. 13, and Houston was fined $5 million, the maximum under MLB’s constitution. The Astros were penalized their next two first- and second-round amateur draft picks.
Baseball’s season is on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, and this year’s draft may be cut to as few as five rounds. Manfred said he was mindful “this penalty may have a more significant impact on the Red Sox than in a normal year.” The pick lost was No. 52 overall.