MLB names Red Sox replay operator chief culprit, bans Cora for Astros role
Major League Baseball has identified Boston Red Sox video replay operator J.T. Watkins as the primary culprit following its investigation into sign-stealing allegations against the 2018 team, according to a statement from commissioner Rob Manfred on Wednesday.
The league is suspending Watkins for the 2020 season and playoffs for utilizing "the game feeds in the replay room, in violation of MLB regulations, to revise sign sequence information that he had permissibly provided to players prior to the game." Watkins will also be unable to resume his role as replay room operator during the 2021 season and playoffs.
Former Red Sox manager Alex Cora will be banned through 2020, but only for conduct during his tenure with the Houston Astros in 2017.
MLB chose not to suspend Cora for Watkins' transgressions because the league found no evidence that he was aware of them. However, Manfred noted that Cora was negligent and "did not effectively communicate to Red Sox players the sign-stealing rules that were in place for the 2018 season."
While the Red Sox were found in violation of the rules, Manfred's statement did note that Boston's use of sign-stealing "was far more limited in scope and impact (than Houston's)," due to the fact that "the information was only relevant when the Red Sox had a runner on second base," which was 19.7% of plate appearances in 2018.
Watkins has denied any illicit behavior and claims he used old information when communicating signs to players, notes The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich.
Cora and the Red Sox agreed to sever ties in January after MLB revealed his involvement in the Astros' sign-stealing scandal. He's eligible to return to MLB in 2021.
Similar to sanctions against the Astros, no Red Sox players will be reprimanded for any involvement in the scheme. According to Manfred's report, players were unaware that decoding opposing teams' signs using in-game footage had been prohibited in 2018.
The league did not find that the illegal conduct continued during the postseason en route to Boston's World Series win or at any point in the 2019 campaign.
Red Sox president Sam Kennedy issued a statement Wednesday afternoon regarding the league's findings:
"As an organization, we strive for 100% compliance with the rules. MLB's investigation concluded that in isolated instances during the 2018 regular season, sign sequences were decoded through the use of live game video rather than through permissible means.
"MLB acknowledged the front office's extensive efforts to communicate and enforce the rules and concluded that Alex Cora, the coaching staff, and most of the players did not engage in, nor were they aware of, any violations. Regardless, these rule violations are unacceptable. We apologize to our fans and Major League Baseball, and accept the commissioner's ruling."
Ron Roenicke was originally named interim manager after Cora's departure from the Red Sox. However, Roenicke's interim tag has now been removed, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. Roenicke's current contract expires following the 2020 season, sources told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.