What’s the Red Sox’ plan? Sam Kennedy says they’re
BOSTON— The president and CEOof the Boston Red Sox admits the Sox are not “allin” trying to win the World Series this year.
“I think it would be inaccurate to say we are going for it with an all-in approach that perhaps we did prior to the 2018 title,” Sam Kennedy acknowledged in a wide-ranging interview Tuesday.
“We cherish that title, and all of them, but the way we built that team came at a price, which included importantly a depleted farm system and some depleted draft picks along the way. So we are building back up, and as we do this hopefully the right way, we’ll have a chance to be competitive in the American League East in 2021, but also for the longer term.”
There you have it. After 20 years of pedal-to-the-metal, the Sox are downshifting in urgency and expectations. It’s been obvious to longtime fans and observers for a while — certainly since the salary-dump trade of Mookie Betts last year. The Sox finished in the basement in the COVID-shortened 2020 season and have been dormant this offseason while their rivals improve. Interest is plummeting and fans are restless.
“I understand the frustration associated with the fact that it’s been a slow offseason,” said Kennedy. “I understand the frustration when we have a very disappointing season like we had last year. The good news is that we have a lot of guys returning from health issues and we’re not done yet.”
Do the Sox take their fans for granted, hoping the goodwill of four championships in this century allows them to coast?
“That’s patently false,” said Kennedy. “Our ownership group wants a fifth, sixth, and seventh championship. We are in it to win and to deliver for our fans. This is an incredibly competitive front office and a highly experienced and successful ownership group, and we are in the baseball business to win. Period.”
The Sox are a big-market team, valued at $3.3 billion by Forbes. They’ve had one of MLB’s top four payrolls for each of the last 10 seasons, but in 2020, they traded their best player because of money — something we expect of the cash-poor Indians, whojust dumped Francisco Lindor.
Nowthe Sox are looking to trade Andrew Benintendi, who makes $6.6 million. While the division rival Blue Jays just landed George Springer and the Yankees signed Corey Kluber and re-signed D.J. LeMahieu, the Sox answered with Matt Andriese and Hunter Renfroe.