The Sox traded Betts and David Price with the Dodgers in February, saying at the time that acquiring three prospects was preferable to losing their star right fielder as a free agent.
The Dodgers moved quickly and signed Betts with a 12-year, $ 365 million deal that was announced Wednesday.
“I was a little surprised at the moment,” Kennedy said. “I wish him the best and we move on.”
Kennedy said the Red Sox “never once” had the impression that Betts did not like playing in Boston or for the Red Sox.
“It was unfortunate that we were unable to meet on contractual terms. It happens in this business, ”Kennedy said. “It is one of the most difficult parts of the business.”
Kennedy touched on several other topics:
▪ Keep waiting for fans to attend games at Fenway Park before the end of this season.
“It may seem like a difficult thing to accomplish right now. So we are going to walk before we run, ”he said. “The first step is to get the games up and running, make sure we can accomplish everything that is expected of us from Major League Baseball regarding our health and safety protocols.”
Kennedy said that, as a business, the Red Sox hope to earn revenue from attendance if that is deemed safe for fans and team employees.
“We need fans at the stadium,” he said. “They are as much a part of this franchise as anyone.”
That Fenway is a spacious outdoor venue with fixed entry points, it could be possible.
“We will see if that is possible. At the moment it is not possible given the rules of the Major League Baseball and given where we are with the state of Massachusetts and the city of Boston, “Kennedy said.
The Red Sox have 12 of their 30 games at home in September, including three against the Yankees as of September 18.
▪ The Red Sox will have a 120-foot-long “Black Lives Matter” poster spread across the seats in center field for Friday’s season opener against Baltimore.
The team also put “Black Lives Matter” on its large billboard overlooking the Massachusetts Turnpike as it runs behind Fenway. It will remain there indefinitely.
“We are committed to amplifying powerful messages for progress and fighting inequality and injustice at all times,” said Kennedy. “It is important for us not to be ambiguous about where we are standing.”
▪ Kennedy said the pandemic has cost baseball “billions and billions” of dollars due to the reduced schedule and that fans are not allowed.
“The individual clubs are suffering staggering losses,” he said. “There is an economic reality in which clubs individually lose more than $ 100 million per club.”
Peter Abraham can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.
