When the Commissioner’s report on the Astros sign-stealing investigation came out, and former bench coach – and current Red Sox manager – Alex Cora was so heavily implicated, the writing was on the wall: an enormous suspension was coming.
And then after the Astros fired GM Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch for their lack of oversight? Yeah, the Red Sox pretty much had to do this:
Statement from the Boston #RedSox and Alex Cora: pic.twitter.com/qXsUhSobSy
— Red Sox (@RedSox) January 15, 2020
Like the Astros, the Red Sox will be left scrambling to fill their managerial seat for the interim period. The Astros are going with bench coach Joe Espada, and the Red Sox might turn to their own bench coach in Ron Roenicke on an interim basis.
Keep in mind, the Red Sox are already *separately* under investigation by MLB for reportedly using the replay video room to try to steal signs in 2018, after the Commissioner had already specifically punished and warned them about stealing signs via electronic means. They are going to be punished for it, and who knows who will be implicated.
Will this uncertainty provide more cover for the Red Sox to move Mookie Betts and get under the luxury tax? Just sayin’.
Oh, also: rumors persist that the Astros and the Red Sox weren’t the only teams cheating, though it remains to be seen whether other teams will actually be investigated.
One more also: Carlos Beltran, now manager of the Mets, was almost as deeply implicated as Cora:
"Witnesses consistently describe this new scheme as player-driven … with the exception of Cora." pic.twitter.com/BbUZHulZlh
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 13, 2020