Watch CBS News

Henry Denies Report Owners Quietly Shopping Red Sox

BOSTON (CBS) - Could there be a "For Sale" sign outside of Fenway Park soon?

After months of speculation, the owners of the Boston Red Sox are reportedly mulling a potential sale of the team, and "have even begun quietly shopping the team to potential buyers," according to Fox Business Network.

But Red Sox owner John Henry sang a different tune after the story came out, vehemently denying the they were considering a sale of the team.

"A sale of any kind is so far from our thinking it hasn't even come up apart from technical planning issues involving death or disability. This report is completely without foundation," Henry said in an email to the media. "Regarding unnamed sources: Any sale discussions that may have taken place were missing three key people — Larry [Lucchino], Tom [Werner] and me. The Sox and any of the other components of FSG (Fenway Sports Group) are not for sale and will not be for the foreseeable future."

But according to the Fox report, with the Red Sox suffering one of their worst seasons since the group took over in 2002, and with ongoing turmoil also surrounding the Fenway Sports Group's other big venture, Liverpool FC, the team is reportedly debating if it has the financial resources to run both franchises.

Read: New Chapter In Aceves/Valentine Feud

The Red Sox made a bold, blockbuster move just last month, dealing first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, outfielder Carl Crawford and pitcher Josh Beckett to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a crop of prospects and, mainly, salary relief. In sending the three starters out west, Boston saved nearly $250 million through 2018.

Chris Curtis: Was Blockbuster First Step Towards Selling Franchise?

According to Fox, a potential price tag on the Sox would likely be $1.3 billion. Forbes recently valued the franchise at roughly $1 billion.

While it's been the sentiment of many Red Sox fans since the purchase of Liverpool, people close to executives inside Fenway also told Fox Business the management group has been focused more on the soccer team than on the Red Sox.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.