Spygate, it wasn't. Deflategate, it wasn't.
To the disappointment of people like Jon Heyman -- who wanted Major League Baseball to force the Red Sox to forfeit all of this season's victories over the Yankees because of "cheating" -- Watchgate came to an anticlimactic ending Friday when commissioner Rob Manfred fined the Red Sox an undisclosed amount of money over the sign-stealing incident reported to MLB by the Yankees several weeks ago. The Yanks complained the Sox were using an Apple watch in the dugout to relay signs, which were deciphered by the team's video workers in the clubhouse, to hitters.
Manfred -- who pointed out that the stealing of signs is not illegal, though using on-field electonic devices to relay them is -- said the money from the fine would be used to help hurricane-relief efforts in Florida.
The Yankees didn't escape unscathed. The Red Sox had filed a countercomplaint, accusing them of using their YES Network cameras to steal signs, and though Manfred said there was "insufficient evidence" to punish them for that, he did fine them an undisclosed amount for violating a rule governing the use of dugout phones.
So there were no suspensions or firings of individuals involved in the scheme, as some had called for, nor was there any forfeiture of draft choices. But Manfred warned "all 30 Clubs have been notified that future violations of this type will be subject to more serious sanctions, including the possible loss of draft picks."