Constant Delay in MLB Investigation Into Red Sox Sign-Stealing is Actually Bad for Boston

While we wait for the all clear on the start of the MLB regular season, which is rightfully postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rob Manfred delivered an update on the Boston Red Sox sign-stealing investigation.

Per Manfred, the investigation is done, but he has yet to write up and release a report as MLB deals with the ramifications of the pandemic. While that's totally understandable, it's actually bad for a Boston Red Sox franchise that should want such punishment over with as quickly as possible.

On ESPN Rob Manfred says the Red Sox investigation is done, but he hasn’t had time to finish writing the report.
— Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) March 26, 2020

The sooner a report reveals the extent of the Red Sox wrongdoings, the sooner they can get past an asterisk which has been looming over the start of their regular season, as well as their 2018 World Series squad. Boston already fired Alex Cora months ahead of time, but that could just be the beginning.

Rob Manfred on ESPN, re: Red Sox: "We are done with the investigation. There’s been a delay in terms of producing a written report just because I frankly have not had time to turn to it. ... We will get a Boston report out before we resume play."
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 26, 2020

The Red Sox are starting anew in more ways than one. They've traded Mookie Betts by their own choosing, hired Ron Roenicke and introduced new GM Chaim Bloom. This is a changing of the guard, and few members of the 2018 World Series team even remain at this point. As things currently stand, they're unable to both literally and figuratively turn the page.

Boston can't react to inaction, and perhaps that's punishment in itself.