Yankees fight release of MLB letter related to 2017 sign-stealing scheme, report says
Were the New York Yankees more deeply involved in sign-stealing than previously known?
A current legal drama is brewing, as reported by The Athletic, related to the 2017 incident where the Boston Red Sox were fined by MLB for use of an Apple Watch to relay Yankees signs.
At the time, the Yankees were cited only for misuse of a dugout phone during a prior series (the Red Sox had countered that the Yankees had a YES Network camera aimed at their dugout).
On Friday, a U.S. District Court judge ruled that a letter sent by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to the Yankees, concerning findings of that 2017 incident, should be unsealed.
The matter is related to a lawsuit against MLB by daily fantasy sports players and the electronic sign-stealing scandals – also uncovered by The Athletic – that resulted in major penalties against the Houston Astros and lesser penalties against the Red Sox.
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The court case is now pending appeal.
According to the report, the plaintiffs argue the letter by Manfred to the Yankees will reveal more serious infractions by the Yankees than previously stated.
According to The Athletic, the Yankees through their lawyer counter that there is no justification for disclosing a letter from a case that has been dismissed, and that such release would damage reputations of employees.
The Yankees may file an emergency appeal against this order, according to The Athletic, before a June 19 deadline.