"If Bregman Wanted to Be Here, He'd Be Here" CEO Sam Kennedy's Slimy Red Sox Blame Game Is Bullshit

"If Alex Bregman wanted to be here, ultimately, he would be here." 

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No matter what bullshit came from the mouth of Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy on Sunday, from all indications, Alex Bregman wanted to remain a member of the Boston Red Sox. 

Like, ALL indications. 

⚾ Is a good friend of manager Alex Cora 

⚾ Spoke glowingly of his time here 

⚾ Was texting with Alex Cora almost every day off the offseason, per Cora. 

⚾ Was jumping into the comments of other Sox players just a few months ago on IG 

There was zero sign he wanted to leave Boston as a free agent. 

It's much more likely the Red Sox dicked him around, didn't believe he had a comparable offer, and blew the negotiation.

Just like former Red Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski told us last month. In the process, they lost a key team member. 

It didn't help that the Red Sox wouldn't give Bregman a no-trade clause, something he reportedly said was very important to him both during the season and during the negotiation. It's his last big contract, he has young kids, I get it. Oh, and he just watched the team trade their best hitter in Rafael Devers a few months prior. OF COURSE, he wanted a no-trade. 

I mean, this quote from his Cubs' presser is a direct shot at the Red Sox front office. 

“Being able to be in a place that offered stability and a place that showed how much they cared about me is super important to me and my family,” Bregman said. “I have a young family and we can’t wait to raise our kids here in Chicago.”

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Bregman is a huge loss for the team. He played Gold Glove defense at third. Was a solid bat, especially before he got hurt. And his teammates loved him. One example was Nathaniel Lowe, who needed help last season. 

“Been really grinding with the staff here. Even Bregman gave me some pretty big cues as far as when to get ready and how to fix up some of the errors I’ve been making…”

There were many other quotes just like this. From all over the roster and coaching staff. In the end, the Red Sox did not want to pay him at the top of the market, and we're unwilling to offer the no-trade…all this after telling him they didn't believe he had another offer. 

Rather than own up to it, Kennedy put the blame squarely on Bregman Sunday. He would not comment on the team's philosophy on no-trade deals. The whole press conference was classic slimy sales guy Kennedy. He said, unironically, that "You can't replace a bat like Rafael Devers." He talked repeatedly about elite pitching after the team failed to acquire a power bat. He harped on improvement. 

And all the while, sounded like a bad salesman. 

But worst of all, blaming Bregman for leaving when all the blame belongs on the Red Sox.