As Boston Red Sox principal owner John Henry continues to duck the media, CEO and president Sam Kennedy stays in the spotlight to answer questions for the front office.
Through his many appearances on radio shows and interviews with publications, Kennedy has offered contradictory statements and some downright strange takes. He continued his streak on WEEI's Greg Hill Show Wednesday morning.
He began his interview by saying that it's been a "rough offseason" with a lot of emotionally charged comments flying from fans, which he's come to expect with such a passionate fanbase. And Kennedy made one specific comment that has generated more emotion in quite some time.
Kennedy was asked about the team lowering payroll even with good profit margins — the Red Sox announced that their payroll would likely be lower than it was last season despite the 2023 season being "unacceptable."
He said that baseball "is not a profit-oriented business," and that all revenue generated by the Red Sox and Fenway Park is put back into baseball operations. But Fenway Park ticket prices increased this season for a likely thrice-consecutive last-place club and fans have seen no change in the quality of the team.
Sam Kennedy told @TheGregHillShow that owning the Red Sox is not a “profit-oriented business.”
— Boston Sports Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) February 28, 2024
He called it a “responsibility, a stewardship” by John Henry and company to put a winning product on the field. pic.twitter.com/Q7jGUJZFjA
Sam Kennedy continues to make inconsistent statements about Red Sox offseason plans
Kennedy also said that owning the Red Sox is equivalent to a "responsibility or a stewardship" and that Henry, Tom Werner and the rest of the ownership group are obligated to put out a winning product.
Clearly, they don't believe that themselves.
Kennedy made many statements during his interview about spending money not equating to immediate success and that the team wants to wait until some top prospects make it to the league before building around them. But he also said that the organization needs to prove they're committed to winning by spending money to get fans interested in the team again.
Kennedy's contradictions are seemingly never-ending. And that's apparently a prerequisite for a big promotion!
The Red Sox announce that Sam Kennedy is taking on "expanded responsibilities" for Fenway Sports Group and is now the CEO of FSG. He will remain as president/CEO of the Red Sox.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) March 1, 2024
There's also a deeper-rooted issue with the Red Sox front office believing that prospects are going to solve all of their problems — that because the organization spent years investing in Marcelo Mayer hoping he's the second coming of Xander Bogaerts. There's no guarantee prospects make it to MLB in the first place, let alone reach icon status.
Kennedy's interview reminded fans that 2024 is going to be just another bridge year. He promised another flashy free agency someday, but now was not the time.
The front office wouldn't be in the position it's in now if it never deceived fans about its plans in the first place. Had the men in charge come out and said they expected another rebuilding year, fans likely wouldn't be as critical as they've been for months.
Kennedy wouldn't be forced to repeatedly take the fall for ownership's missteps. And fans would be spared the endless contradictions.