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Red Sox President/CEO Sam Kennedy joins live from Fort Myers! The Greg Hill Show!
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00:00But joining us right now is the president of the Boston Red Sox, Sam Kennedy.
00:04Sam, good morning.
00:06Morning, guys.
00:07Great to be with you.
00:08Sorry I'm not in person, but maybe the Oran Iron tonight is the place to be.
00:13Well, I will accept that.
00:14I came all the way down here to see you, and then you called the show.
00:18I mean, we're freezing here at the ballpark.
00:20Can you do something at least about the temperature, Sam?
00:23It was 39 when we started the show.
00:26I'm sure your listeners up in Boston really want to hear how cold it is down here, Greg.
00:31Yeah, you are probably right about that.
00:34And I am in the car.
00:36I didn't want to be there in person because I might have strangled Curtis if I was there.
00:40So I just wanted to take a deep breath.
00:44Wow.
00:45I'm sure you have – just say it.
00:47You've got more important things to do.
00:48I totally understand that.
00:51No, I am.
00:51I'm about to wash my hair.
00:53I've got to focus on you.
00:55Yeah, same.
00:56We were talking to Jason Veritech earlier here, and we were talking about yesterday and nine some odd ABS challenges.
01:06You like the way that is working so far?
01:10Yeah, I really do.
01:11I think it's going to be a great thing for the fans.
01:14And, look, there's always going to be bumps in the road on implementation,
01:19but it's been something that we've been looking forward to and along with the other innovations in the game.
01:24So, yeah, looking forward to it.
01:26Sam, you obviously, you know, had your State of the Union address at the picnic tables a week and a
01:33half ago or so,
01:34and you quickly restated how you were feeling about Bregman when you said that you didn't intend to say that
01:40Bregman,
01:41if he wanted to be here, he would be here.
01:43My question on that entire conversation is, were you saying that just that because he opted out of the contract?
01:49Is it as simple as that?
01:50Is that what you were intending to say?
01:53Listen, yeah.
01:54Well, look, there's also a lot of passion and emotion, and we care deeply about all these issues.
02:01So, I think we'll just move on from that issue other than to say we really are grateful to Alex
02:08and what he did here in Boston,
02:12and we're moving on and grateful for his contributions.
02:15Being around this team so far and talking with Alex and talking with Craig, who steps into that kind of
02:23veteran leadership role,
02:24which I think a lot of us felt like Alex Bregman was so good at last season, especially with the
02:30young guys, Sam?
02:32Yeah, it's probably a better question for the guys in the clubhouse, but from where I sit, Trevor's story has
02:39always been in that leadership role
02:42and a guy that everyone looks to, and so that goes without saying.
02:47And then there's other guys who are hopefully going to step up as we get into the season.
02:52Sam, talk about guys stepping up.
02:54I know as a fan, I think a lot of us were hoping for a guy like Pete Alonso, but
02:59you guys missed on him.
03:00Who do you see as a guy or guys that step into a role that can add some, you know,
03:07we've asked Veritek,
03:08but can add some pop to this lineup?
03:11Well, I mean, you look up and down the lineup, hopefully, you know, Roman can take his game to new
03:17levels,
03:18and Wilson Contreras has looked good, Sadon's looked good, early Willie Abreu.
03:22I mean, it's an exciting, versatile, dynamic lineup.
03:26So lots of guys that can add some to the lineup, and we'll see what happens as we get going.
03:35Sam, one of the other things that, you know, Veritek talked about, and you talk a little bit about it,
03:42is the athleticism that you have with this team.
03:46Is that going to see it?
03:47Are we going to see a team that relies a lot on that and being able to, you know,
03:51be a little bit more aggressive scoring runs in other ways that we haven't seen in the past
03:56from a team that has such great athletes?
04:00Yeah, it's been a real focus for Craig Breslow and our baseball operation,
04:05is to try and assemble a more athletic, dynamic group of guys,
04:10and guys that can create a lot of damage on the base paths,
04:14guys that can play a lot of different positions,
04:17a young group with a lot of athleticism, as you say.
04:21It's really important, and that's what we think the 2026 Red Sox will put on display.
04:28Yeah, Sam, I was talking earlier.
04:30Is the feeling that the defense and the flexibility of your roster
04:35will compensate for the lack of 30 home run power that's projected this season?
04:41Well, look, starting pitching was clearly a priority for us in the offseason,
04:46adding to bullpen depth, stronger infield defense, certainly important,
04:52and run prevention is a big part of the game.
04:55But you also have to score runs, and we have high expectations for this group on that front.
05:03So, yes, pitching and defense are critical, but I think if you look at the lineup
05:09and you look at the guys that we have in there,
05:12I don't think we should count out guys having the ability to hit 30 or more home runs.
05:17Obviously, we have to do that, and here we are in February.
05:20It's easy to say that, but it's not something that we're –
05:25we have high expectations on the offensive side of the ball as well.
05:29Sam, I'm sure you spend a lot of time talking to your counterparts,
05:33doing the same role for other franchises.
05:36Where is baseball in general?
05:39And I bring it up just because a couple guys on the player side of things
05:43have spoken specifically about it this season.
05:45Where, in general, is baseball on the Dodgers and on, in general,
05:54the opportunity to spend whatever they're going to spend
05:58and the potential for buying a World Series every year?
06:03Like, what's the general vibe on that around the league?
06:07Look, the Dodgers have done a great job.
06:11They're playing by the rules.
06:12We're in World Series championships.
06:16All you can do is tip your cap to them and step up and try and compete with them,
06:21and that's what we intend to do.
06:22Is what the Dodgers are doing sustainable long-term?
06:29Look, it's – in certain markets,
06:32when you have such incredible support the way we do in Boston,
06:37you're able to generate substantial revenues and support payrolls.
06:43Now, losing the kind of money that you end up losing if you spend to certain levels
06:49is, I don't think, sustainable,
06:51but I would never comment on the Dodgers' operations
06:55or how they approach things.
06:57They've done a great job, and we tip our caps to them.
07:00It appears that in Boston it is going to continue to snow well into May.
07:08Any plan, the alternate place to play if there is seven or eight feet of snow
07:17that cannot be removed from the field at Fenway, Sam?
07:21Well, I think we'll be in good shape and ready to go to host the Padres opening day,
07:28but if not, Fenway South is looking pretty good these days, as you know,
07:32so we've always got a great backup.
07:35There have been some pretty cold opening days.
07:37Oh, my goodness.
07:38Yeah.
07:39I think everybody can handle it.
07:41It's just if the snow would stop, it would be great.
07:44Greatly appreciate it.
07:46It really would be.
07:47Sam, I think people are really excited for this year's team,
07:51but I think a lot of people are a little bit nervous on where baseball could be going
07:55and potentially with a lockout.
07:57So, one of the things that maybe owners, because I believe in – this is just my opinion.
08:03This is Wiggy's solution for solving the major labor problems in baseball.
08:07Yeah, and I don't know –
08:08He's been talking about this.
08:09All right, let's hear it, Wiggy.
08:09Let's hear it, Wiggy.
08:10Let's hear it.
08:12Is the basketball model of, like, the contract lens something that Major League Baseball
08:18would like to see where, you know, some of those max contracts are like, you know,
08:22five or six years rather than these 14, 15-year deals?
08:27Is that something where owners would like to get to?
08:32Look, Wiggy, one of the hard parts of this job, and understand the frustration among listeners
08:39and fans when we can't fully address or answer questions, we take criticism,
08:45and I understand that, and it's totally fair.
08:49On this topic, unfortunately, I cannot discuss the labor situation in baseball at all.
08:55There's certain no-fly zones for us in the game, and I know that's frustrating to not only media
09:02but to fans, but I'm going to have to politely decline answering any questions related to labor negotiations
09:09and leave that to the commissioner and his team at Major League Baseball.
09:14Yeah, and I'm working, Sam, still.
09:16Theo, the next commissioner, that's my moonshot, so I'll keep working at that.
09:20But the – you talk –
09:22You've got to get him off the golf course.
09:24I know. Well, the PGA thing, it's a big project, I hear.
09:28But the way you discussed – or the way you reacted to questions specific to a player
09:34regarding the team's ability to have a no-trade clause granted to certain guys,
09:39I understand not wanting to get to specifics about negotiations.
09:42However, you have said over and over again when we've spoken over the course of the years
09:47how important it is not only to find guys that play here but find guys that thrive in Boston.
09:53And it seems like Bregman is the latest example of a guy that came here.
09:57We all of you know the Schwarber deal.
09:58You'll be seeing Xander Bogarts at the opener at Fenway Park with the Padres.
10:03Why is it that there seemed to have been a disconnect between finding and identifying players
10:07that like it here, play here, and that thrive here,
10:10and then not being able to consummate a deal that allows them to do that longer?
10:15Well, I think we have found guys that are going to thrive here
10:20and want to be here for the long term.
10:22Guys like Roman Anthony, guys like William Abreu, guys like Jaron Duran,
10:27guys like Garrett Crochet.
10:28The list goes on and on.
10:30Trevor Story.
10:31So we're really excited about the group we have
10:34and confident in our ability to take that next step forward into October.
10:40Obviously, there's a lot of optimism right now, Chris, this time of year.
10:44We've got to go out and do it.
10:46But we're feeling very good about where we are right now.
10:50No, listen, Jason Veritek was full of optimism and talking about this team.
10:56And I think, you know, you automatically look as a fan and go,
11:01I want home runs and I want to win games that way and it's exciting.
11:07But, you know, it sounds like, at least from his perspective,
11:13that, you know, in Major League Baseball you can win games with great pitching
11:18and you can win games with, you know, I hate the small ball term,
11:23but you can win games with great defense and by advancing the runner.
11:29So it sounds to me like that may perhaps be what you guys are looking at
11:34when it comes to this season strategy-wise.
11:38Well, I've had a 25-year policy of not disagreeing with Jason Veritek.
11:45It's usually a good choice.
11:47So I'll leave it at that I completely agree with that assessment
11:52and it's a great thing for Red Sox fans.
11:58His 30th season with the organization, is that a Rolex or what is that?
12:06I think it's a drink on you tonight.
12:10Give me the name again.
12:11Yeah, yeah, yeah.
12:12We're going to War and Iron.
12:14All right, so that's...
12:14War and Iron, War and Iron.
12:15Are you on the record?
12:17It's on you, Greg.
12:19Listen, it'll be on me.
12:21I'm like Pat McAfee paying for the drinks for the gold medal winning
12:25U.S. men's hockey team.
12:28Are you coming?
12:30Because I think there's going to be some people they'd love to hang out.
12:33So can we get a commitment from you 5 to 6, 5 to 6, 30 tonight,
12:37War and Iron?
12:38No, you definitely can.
12:41Jeez, you talk a good game, Sam Kennedy.
12:46We got work to do, Greg.
12:48We got work to do.
12:49We're down here for kids.
12:50Yeah, all right.
12:51Well, Sam, and that's one of the things that, you know,
12:54when we had Veritek on that I was really excited about it.
12:56As somebody who's played professionally and been a fan of the game,
13:00the one thing that I...
13:01Humble brag.
13:02Yeah, yeah.
13:02But I don't like when coaches run from it.
13:05And, you know, we asked Veritek about expectation.
13:08It was about getting to a World Series and winning a World Series.
13:11Is that the narrative that's being pushed?
13:13Because as a fan and as a former player,
13:16I like when you talk about the ultimate goal, which is to win it all.
13:22Yeah, let me tell you, that was the message that was delivered loud
13:25and clear by Alex Cora from the very top of our baseball leadership
13:31in that clubhouse.
13:33So, yeah, no one's running from that.
13:36No one's hiding from it.
13:37We want to take that next step forward into October.
13:40A lot of things have to go right,
13:42but there are very, very high expectations internally for that team.
13:46There's a lot of confidence and belief.
13:49So that's how it starts and a long road ahead.
13:52It's a marathon, as Alex talked about with the group,
13:57that first team meeting.
13:58But there's very, very high hopes inside that clubhouse.
14:02Yeah, I would say one positive note that I've observed in our brief time
14:06we landed about midnight last night,
14:08but that the chaos or consternation stress regarding the Devers acquisition
14:15with Bregman, where they're going to play last year,
14:17feels like a much different camp.
14:19Feels like there's not, you know, no news is good news.
14:22People are here, young team looking to gel together.
14:24I think the fans that are coming will be happy to see that.
14:29Chris Curtis, positivity, alert the media.
14:33It is rare.
14:34We get it from time to time.
14:36I just love baseball.
14:38He does love baseball.
14:40All right, Sam, thanks for taking the time.
14:43We will obviously talk to you again as we get closer to opening day
14:48for Major League Baseball.
14:50See you over the next couple days, guys.
14:52Welcome to South.
14:53All right.
14:53That is Sam Kennedy, president of the Boston Red Sox.
14:56Here we go.
14:56the world of baseball who is actually actually
14:56All right.
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