Boston Red Sox draft pick penalty hurts more than usual

The Red Sox were penalized a 2nd-round pick from MLB’s sign-stealing investigation and that price is higher than it would have been in previous years.

When MLB released their findings on the Boston Red Sox sign-stealing investigation the penalty appeared to be a mere slap on the wrist. Blame was pinned on a video replay system operator while everyone else was exonerated, including then-manager Alex Cora, whose one-year suspension is based entirely on his involvement in the Houston Astros scandal.

While commissioner Rob Manfred viewed J.T. Watkins as a rouge employee, absolving the Red Sox coaching staff, front office and ownership of any guilt, he still docked the team a second-round draft…