LAS VEGAS -- Major League Baseball has discussed the possibility of banning -- or at least limiting -- defensive shifts in the game, though no precise details have emerged.
From the Red Sox perspective, both Dave Dombrowski and Alex Cora would be against such a change.
"It's part of the game,'' said Cora. "We're trying to get outs by defending. Our (hitters) do a good job going the other way and beating the shift. It's part of the game. You have to play defense. You have to get 27 outs and the defensive alignments are part of it.''
"I know that everybody has their own opinion on it,'' added Dombrowski. "But I'm not for banning them. My (objection) is very simple -- I don't think that you should penalize intellect. If you have ways of figuring out a way on how to get people out, it's up to you as a club and as an industry to make those adjustments. I think more and more clubs will adjust; if they don't, it's an advantage to the others. That's my own personal opinion.''
Meanwhile, there's also talk about how to combat electronic sign stealing. The Red Sox were caught doing so in 2017, while the Houston Astros were nabbed by the Red Sox and Cleveland Indians this past postseason.
"It's been front-and-center,'' said Dombrowski of the talks. "They aren't ready to roll out the rules and I'm not really at liberty to discuss them at this time, but it is a topic of conversation and I think Major League Baseball will be addressing in a significant fashion starting this year.''
"If MLB is going to police it, we're going to be prepared,'' added Cora.
Dombrowski noted that eliminating the sign-stealing could also indirectly improve pace of play issues, since teams won't be taking time to constantly change signals or make mound visits.
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