Red Sox stand by Cora dismissal, remove interim tag from Roenicke

Major League Baseball handed down its decision Wednesday on the 2018 Boston Red Sox, finding the club in violation of the rules and suspending video replay system operator J.T. Watkins.

Former Red Sox manager Alex Cora was also suspended for the 2020 season, but only for his role in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scheme.

The team confirmed shortly after the ruling that it has moved on from the relationship with Cora.

"All the reasons we parted ways with (Cora) then are still the case," Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said during a conference call, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

Ron Roenicke, who was named as the team's interim manager following Cora's departure, has had his "interim" tag removed following the results of the investigation.

However, Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy made it clear that he believes Cora should get another job in MLB.

"(Cora) does need to go through a rehab process. What he did was wrong," Kennedy said, according to Chris Cotillo of Masslive. "He acknowledged that to us and apologized to us."

Kennedy also added that he's "a big believer in second chances," and that the Red Sox "wish (Cora) well."

"I am relieved that these MLB investigations are concluded and that commissioner Manfred has released his finding that I did not violate any MLB rules as a member of the Red Sox organization in 2018 or 2019," Cora said in a statement through his agency. "I am grateful for the commissioner's thoughtful and thorough investigation relating to my conduct as Red Sox manager. I also take full responsibility for the role I played, along with others, in the Astros' violations of MLB rules in 2017. ... I respect and accept the commissioner's discipline for my past actions."

Watkins wasn't punished by the team and will return in 2021, though he can't resume his role as video replay system operator until 2022 under the guidelines of his league-mandated punishment.