#1 Need for Red Sox? President and CEO Sam Kennedy joins with the answer!

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What is the #1 need for #redsox to address at #mlb Trade Deadline? Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy joins with the answers!

Transcript

00:00You go into the all-star break with that 10-game heater

00:04and then come back and struggle a little bit.

00:08You look at just up until last night and the team struggling.

00:16Is that because the argument by those who are negative is that this is,

00:22you know, you won some games during that streak against teams

00:25that were not so good.

00:26First time you encounter some good teams, you struggle a little bit.

00:28Where are you at it when you look at since the all-star break?

00:33I haven't noticed any negativity in this town.

00:36Have you?

00:39I think we're, you know, 14 and what, 5 in July?

00:44All good, man.

00:46Okay.

00:46Keep rolling.

00:48It was a tough series in Chicago.

00:51I mean, it was great.

00:53When Willier hit that home run and then Braggie followed up,

00:56it felt really good because we were struggling.

01:01Tough series out there and then another tough series in Philly.

01:04And then last night was excruciating,

01:08but it also hopefully could be a turning point in the season

01:13where these guys really dug deep.

01:15It was a game we felt like we needed to have coming into an off day

01:18and then huge series this weekend against the Dodgers.

01:21So it was a good win last night.

01:24And now let's keep it rolling here as we head to the trade deadline.

01:28Sam, there were a lot of people that were comparing last season

01:31to this season going into the all-star break really hot,

01:34coming out and kind of struggling.

01:35You guys were at the same point record-wise at one point

01:39after the all-star break.

01:41What do you think the reason is for that?

01:43Well, there's a lot of factors.

01:48But to me, and I'm probably too close to it,

01:51but it feels like the makeup of this team feels different.

01:56We have a guy at the top of the rotation that we feel we can call upon.

02:00I think our bullpen is stronger than it's been in years past.

02:05And certainly these young guys are starting to really come into their own.

02:10So there's a good feeling.

02:12But to your point, we're not where we want to be.

02:17You don't want to mess with the wild card.

02:20We're six games back in the division.

02:22So we've got a lot of ground to make up.

02:24The good news is we've got another shot against Toronto

02:27and a couple against the Yankees.

02:29So we're still focused on trying to win that division.

02:32Deadline a week away, what is, from your perspective,

02:35the number one need for this team positionally?

02:38Well, I think we're well-positioned to continue to find ways to improve the club

02:47and improve the organization.

02:49So you can never have enough pitching.

02:51I mean, I've just been in this for so long.

02:54Usually the team with the most locked-down bullpen team with a great rotation

03:01are teams that are built to go deep in the postseason.

03:04That said, we are, I can tell you, there's a lot of outbound phone calls being made

03:10down the hall in baseball operations, looking at ways to upgrade our defense

03:14at certain positions, catcher, first base, right-handed, left-handed.

03:21I mean, we're looking, trying to uncover all opportunities to improve this team.

03:26That said, when you've got 20, 21 teams at this point trying to do the same,

03:32it's challenging.

03:33So my guess is it'll come right down to the end, as it usually does.

03:37But if I heard you right, pitching number one need.

03:41Well, you know, you could argue that there's other areas of weakness and needs.

03:48I just think for, in my experience here, at sort of the level where you take a step back

03:55and you zoom out, the teams that are best built for postseason success feature

04:01lockdown starters and a bullpen that is elite.

04:06So that's probably a personal bias.

04:09But I know Brez and his team are looking at all sorts of different options

04:13to try and improve the group that we have.

04:16Sam, yesterday, Jeff Passan wrote at ESPN.com, doing a primer for the deadline,

04:23quote, at this moment, the Red Sox are not inclined to engage in any large-scale

04:28deadline moves, unquote.

04:30I saw Alex Spear two nights ago on the SN broadcast discussing the market,

04:36not being one that was appetizing, I don't know the exact wording he used,

04:41but something to that effect.

04:42Where are you on preparing the fan base for what to expect that the organization

04:47is going to try and pull off in a week?

04:50Yeah, we're looking to improve, Chris.

04:53And, you know, Passan and Alex and all these guys talk to lots of different people.

04:59I'm not sure where those reports specifically come from because I can tell you there's been,

05:04going all the way back to December, January, February, there's been an urgency around this

05:09organization to be as competitive as possible in 2025 and really excited about the group that we have.

05:17So there's a lot of activity.

05:20In terms of preparing the fan base for what may happen, it would be foolish to try and predict here

05:25because when you get into the trade deadline, emotions run high across all of baseball.

05:31And players who may not be available today may be available just four or five days from now.

05:38So I'm not really sure the direction it's going to go.

05:41We'll just continue to monitor all opportunities and see what might be available as we get closer to the 31st.

05:48Sam, one of the things that Bresla has told us is that he feels that this team is a legitimate contender

05:54and can make a push this year and is looking to not just add depth, but is looking to add an impact arm,

06:02somebody that will get here and move the needle, especially after a guy like Crochet in that rotation.

06:11Is that the mindset of everybody in the organization?

06:15Not just adding depth, but adding an impact player that can really make a push for this season

06:22and going after a, you know, a world championship opportunity.

06:28Yeah, I mean, you know, you said it, Wiggy, like having Garrett Crochet at the top of your rotation

06:35to be able to add to an ace like that would be great.

06:41Now, will it happen?

06:43Really hard to know.

06:44So we'll just have to see what may or may not be available as we get into it.

06:50We got guys like Brian Baio and Lucas Gialito and Walker Buehler starting to pitch better.

06:55And so we're comfortable with the guys that we have.

07:00But if we could add to it, that would be something that, you know, we'd obviously have to consider.

07:04Philosophically, is the organization okay if that's a rental?

07:08I mean, I think we're open to anything that improves the club in 2025.

07:15The really great thing is there's, I think, the optimistic outlook for years out in the future

07:23when you've got a lot of young, star, controllable players in terms of Roman Anthony and Marcelo Meyer

07:32and Garrett Crochet is 26 years old and Narvaez is 26, Rafaela is 24.

07:39So, you know, the future is very, very bright.

07:41So we're focused now on what we can do over the next 10 days or so to improve this year's club.

07:49And we're going to do our best there.

07:52And so, Sam, you guys know how you're going to move going into the next 10 days.

07:56It's not based on how you guys perform in the next two series?

08:00Look, we feel that nothing's changed since coming into this offseason.

08:07We feel that we have a team that is built to compete in the postseason.

08:12And there's just nothing like October baseball at Fenway Park.

08:16And that's been the goal.

08:18So that's what we're focused on right now.

08:21Sam, I just – I know what the fan base feels when they see Schwarber dominate the Red Sox.

08:28Is that, of all the roster decisions, many have been great successes that you've been a part of,

08:34is Kyle Schwarber's departure from Boston after ingratiating himself so quickly

08:40and so effectively with the region, one that you look back on with regret?

08:46I mean, he is an unbelievable teammate, great player, and someone who contributed.

08:55It was a short period of time that he was with us.

08:58But, yeah, I mean, anytime you have a guy who fits well in your organization

09:03and you're unable to retain them, we've certainly had our share of those.

09:08Over the last 24 years, you definitely have some regret.

09:13It's the old, like, why can't we get guys like that?

09:16So he's a great player.

09:19And so we acknowledge that.

09:23That said, we've got a great young group emerging and excited about the talent that we have in our clubhouse.

09:29On another note, Sam, a lot of questions this morning from fans who may be heading to Fenway this weekend

09:35about the potential hospitality workers' strike and how that will affect fans.

09:41And so I just want it because there's back and forth where you've got unions saying,

09:46buy your food outside, you've got questions about whether beer will be delivered,

09:52which is very important to a lot of fans.

09:55So is there a plan in place if that strike is going on to get people there, Fenway Franks, in their waters and stuff?

10:05Yeah, absolutely.

10:07And I want to just clarify that the Red Sox are not a party to this labor negotiation.

10:15This is a negotiation between our vendor, Aramark, and their union.

10:21And that said, we're very focused and we're monitoring this situation because there's a huge impact on our fans in Fenway Park.

10:31We are very confident that both sides are negotiating in good faith.

10:37And our hope is that they come to an agreement at some point.

10:40They've been working on a contract that expired many months ago.

10:45So we're hopeful they reach an agreement.

10:46But in terms of coming to Fenway this weekend, Aramark has assured us that they're prepared to staff all the operations fully.

10:55We're going to give a great fan experience.

10:58Food beverage service is going to be business as usual.

11:02And so we're navigating through it.

11:06But it's not our negotiation, so we don't have a seat at this table.

11:10I don't know if you know this or not, but early in his working career, Chris Curtis was a vendor at Fenway Park.

11:17And so if you're looking for somebody, a very gregarious person who could interact with the fans, then he might be available this weekend, Sam.

11:26I could think of some other jobs we could bring him in and then fire him from.

11:30Oh!

11:31All right.

11:34I mean, that would be fun.

11:37We should do it one day.

11:40You know, anything I can do to help the Red Sox, Sam, you know where to find me.

11:45We should get him out there one night.

11:48What product did you sell?

11:50Well, that's a great question.

11:51So I was in the stands.

11:53My dad's old colleague at E&Y, Mr. Buckley, was an exec with the Red Sox.

11:58And he hooked me up, and I sold Diet Coke.

12:00I was the last on the totem pole.

12:02So whatever was not wanted to have.

12:05And then I don't know if you know this, but the left field steps at Fenway aren't exactly in unison.

12:10Some are like six inches.

12:11Some are ten.

12:12So on my second night at Fenway Park, I did a total and complete wipeout.

12:18Diet Coke squalling in the air.

12:20I'm shocked there was never a lawsuit against the Red Sox because of the damage I caused.

12:25But I did that for two summers.

12:26So if needed, I will come back.

12:29That explains the anger and the venom.

12:32Got it.

12:33I knew there was something deep-rooted inside of you.

12:36I got it now.

12:37Yeah, that was it.

12:38I mean, so I feel like once this is over and settled, if we can't get Curtis to throw out a first pitch,

12:44we ought to get him to work one night as a vendor.

12:47Throw out a hot dog.

12:48We'll give the proceeds to charity, or maybe we'll do it around Jimmy Fund,

12:52which Jimmy Fund Radio Telethon is coming up, Sam.

12:55We're not that far away from it again this year.

12:58How about he serves you, Greg, at the back bar of the Dell Technologies Club?

13:05I don't know if John and John would appreciate it.

13:09The two best bartenders in Fenway, in my opinion.

13:12I don't think I'm trusted in your booze.

13:14All right.

13:14Well, big weekend this weekend.

13:17Sam Kennedy, thanks for taking the time this morning.

13:21Thanks, guys.

13:21All right.

13:22That is Sam Kennedy.

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