Major League Baseball has reportedly concluded its investigation into allegations that the Boston Red Sox stole signs in 2018 and a lawyer for the Red Sox denied MLB’s finding, per The Athletic.
According to The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan, a lawyer representing the Red Sox did not admit to the team allegedly using video replay to steal opponents’ signs during the 2018 season. The denial came during an oral argument during a lawsuit brought by fantasy sports players over the sign-stealing scandal.
MLB has yet to announce its findings publicly. The league finished its interviews in February, but an announcement on the findings has been continuously pushed back by MLB.
The Red Sox are accused of using video technology during the 2018 regular season to capture the sign sequence used by their opponents. Players would then go into the replay room in Fenway Park to identify the signs and then relay them to teammates on the bases.
Boston fired manager Alex Cora in January after MLB’s initial investigation determined the Houston Astros electronically stole signs during their run to the World Series in 2017. Cora, who was the bench coach in Houston, then came to Boston and allegedly used similar tactics upon his arrival.
The allegations against the Red Sox are less severe than those against the Astros, who were fined $5 million, stripped of their first- and their second-round picks in the next two seasons and saw their manager and general manager fired.
Given the latest report and Boston’s denial, it seems likely that MLB determined the Red Sox electronically stole signs in 2018. For now, though, fans will have to wait for MLB to reveal its findings.