By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Boston, MA

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry and president/CEO Larry Lucchino vehemently refuted a television report that plans are afoot to sell the team to interested buyers, describing it as "completely without foundation" and "nonsense".

"The Sox and any of the other components of (Fenway Sports Group) are not for sale and will not be for the foreseeable future," Henry told the Boston Globe in reaction to a Fox Business report by Charlie Gasparino that the team's ownership group is shopping the team.

Gasparino, in a radio interview, stood by his report.

"Regarding unnamed sources: Any sale discussions that may have taken place were missing three key people -- Larry (Lucchino), Tom (Werner) and me," Henry said.

Henry pointed out that there has been no discussion, even internally or among minority partners, about selling the team.

"Whoever (Gasparino) is talking with they are certainly, especially when he mentions there has been talks with a buyer and so forth, it's just so far out of the horizon of things that have been going on here," he added.

Henry said the ownership group is committed to this franchise for the long haul and is determined to restore the team to its old glory.

"We're in this for the long term. We're committed to the Red Sox and committed to getting back to where we need to be," Henry said.

"The owners feel the same kind of competitive juices that the fans feel, that I feel," Lucchino said. "There's an opportunity here to put the team back on the track it was on for a decade. … There has not been one word, one word of discussion regarding that. We are committed, better or worse, we are the guys to kick around."

The Red Sox are mired in their worst season in franchise history. They are currently 64-79, last in the American League East and 16.5 behind the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles.

Meanwhile, Henry confirmed that Lucchino has signed a new contract and will be back with the team next season.

"This is the place I call home," Lucchino said. "I hope to be here for the foreseeable future. I've got no plans to go anywhere else. I enjoy my working relationship with my partners and colleagues, and the challenge that faces us here is a tremendous one. In some ways, and this may sound perverse, it's appealing."

 

Ownership Insists Red Sox Not for Sale