Martinez upset by sign-stealing penalty: MLB 'really didn't find anything'
J.D. Martinez disagrees with the penalties levied against his Boston Red Sox after MLB's recent investigation revealed the team illegally stole signs during the 2018 regular season.
"They had to do something," the slugger said, according to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. "They really didn't find anything."
The Red Sox were found to have used a video feed to help decode catcher signs, though the scheme wasn't as pervasive as that of the 2017 Houston Astros. MLB found no evidence that Boston continued decoding signs in the postseason en route to winning the 2018 World Series.
Boston forfeited a second-round selection in the 2020 draft as punishment. Video replay operator J.T. Watkins, identified as the main culprit in the scheme, was suspended for the 2020 season. Though he can return to the team in 2021, he will not be allowed to hold his previous role during that campaign.
Watkins' suspension didn't sit well with Martinez.
"That pissed me off. It wasn't right," Martinez said. "They just ruined this guy’s career with no evidence."
Martinez is not the first person to voice his displeasure with MLB's ruling. Retired slugger David Ortiz said in April the punishment was "not fair."