Boston Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy met with the media at spring training on Sunday, answering questions about the team’s busy offseason and other topics heading into the 2026 campaign.
Not surprisingly, he was asked about Alex Bregman’s stunning departure in free agency. Despite being considered favorites to re-sign Bregman, the Red Sox shockingly lost him to the Chicago Cubs, who offered the All-Star third baseman a larger contract with a more favorable deferral schedule and the no-trade clause he was reportedly seeking.
During Sunday’s press conference, Kennedy caused a stir among Boston’s fanbase by saying, “If Alex Bregman wanted to be here, ultimately, he’d be here.”
While that may be true, the Red Sox also seemingly deserve some blame for Bregman’s exit after drawing out negotiations with him and ultimately not matching the Cubs’ final offer.
Kennedy addressed the reaction to those remarks during a separate interview with NESN’s Tom Caron and Lou Merloni on Monday.
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“That’s totally fair. Sometimes I get myself in trouble by saying too much, then I get myself in trouble by not saying enough,” Kennedy acknowledged.
“I think with Alex Bregman, I’ll just leave it at huge gratitude for what he meant to this organization. He’s an awesome guy. We loved having him in that clubhouse…We really wish him well,” Kennedy added.
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On a similar note, Kennedy also touched on Boston’s Rafael Devers trade again. He said there was “a breakdown in communication” and called the trade “probably one of the toughest decisions we’ve had to make as an organization…it was really hard and difficult.”
While the Red Sox probably could have handled both situations better, they still have a talented roster and a promising outlook heading into the 2026 season, which Kennedy is excited about.
“In this game, you have to move forward…We’re looking forward towards 2026.”
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