The Boston Red Sox escaped severe penalties in Major League Baseball’s cheating investigation on Wednesday, with Commissioner Rob Manfred concluding that the 2018 World Series champions’ sign-stealing efforts were less egregious than the Astros’ when they won it all the previous season. Ex-manager Alex Cora was formally suspended for the coronavirus-delayed 2020 season – but only for his role as Houston’s bench coach; Manfred had held off a penalty for Cora despite fingering him as the ringleader of the Astros’ sign-stealing operation.
The Red Sox upgraded the status of Ron Roenicke, who had been their interim manager pending the outcome of the investigation. He is now the manager according to team officials.