Both media outlets and Boston Red Sox supporters have conjectured about whether the Fenway Sports Group has been preparing to sell the team.
Over the last few years, the ownership group has made significantly less payroll investments and doesn’t seem to be as driven to succeed as they were throughout the first few decades of their ownership.
Ownership has become concerned (or excited) about an impending sale of the team, and the rumors were finally addressed.
On the “Fenway Rundown” podcast on Tuesday, Sean McAdam of MassLive stated, “No, they are not intending to sell.” “Many people have underlined, restated, and reiterated that. In response, Tom Werner stated that there isn’t any interest in selling. In February of last year, John Henry asked me via email, “When have we (Fenway Sports Group) ever sold anything?”
“If you’re looking at the reduced payroll as evidence that they are preparing to sell and you want that outcome, I’m afraid I have some bad news for you,” McAdam stated. “I do not see that on the horizon by any measure or metric.”
The Red Sox’s lack of investing over the previous few seasons should now be legitimately judged as unacceptable, provided they have no plans to sell.
You can’t have it both ways—reports of a hesitation to spend on these free agents and the reported refusal to sell the team do not align with them other, especially with the way big-name free agents are signing elsewhere.
Particularly after they offended the fan base by implying they could simply declare they would go “full throttle,” save money, and assume no one would take notice.
Ownership’s remarks might as well be words on paper for the time being. Until they demonstrate spending and aggression in the free agent market, these remarks may not mean much.