Done deal

Red Sox sold to Henry group; Duquette's days numbered

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- John Henry strolled up the third-base line to the outfield, a glass of champagne in his hand as he took a solitary moment to contemplate his new status as owner of the Boston Red Sox.

On Wednesday, he completed the costliest purchase of a baseball franchise, and the $660 million sale almost certainly will end Dan Duquette's eight-year reign as general manager, perhaps on Thursday.

The sale is less likely to affect manager Joe Kerrigan. Other changes are coming in the scouting department and front office.

"We're certainly going to begin addressing them," Henry said. "I don't know that we will publicly acknowledge anything (Thursday). It's possible."

The franchise of Ted Williams, Fenway Park and the Green Monster retained its following despite 83 years without a championship and a 2001 season that crumbled in turmoil and losses.

"The true owners of this team are the people of New England, and we feel as if we're stewards," said Henry, former owner of the Florida Marlins. "I don't think I'll feel better tomorrow than I feel right now."

Sale of Red Sox means end of Yawkey era BOSTON -- Fenway Park, the curse of the Bambino, the joys and burdens of a sacred New England sports trust. In the hands of the Yawkey family and trust for seven decades, now all belong to John Henry. Tom Yawkey, his wife Jean and their trustees made the Red Sox one of baseball's flagship franchises, but a franchise of futility. Twenty-eight managers, 14 Hall of Famers and nine GMs toiled under the Yawkey name without a World Series to show for it. • Click here for full story.

Duquette, whose aloof style is the opposite of the new owners' approach, can't feel very good. But just five hours before the closing, he expressed confidence.

"I'm looking forward to seeing this team through as the general manager," he said.

With Henry eager to stabilize the organization before the season opener April 1, and owner Tom Werner arriving in Fort Myers on Thursday, the decision to fire Duquette or offer him another job could be imminent.

There were indications that vice president of baseball operations Mike Port would be interim general manager, a position he might share with Lee Thomas, Duquette's special assistant.

Duquette was absent when Henry and new team president Larry Lucchino leaned out of an office window at City of Palms Park and gave two thumbs up to reporters watching from the press box.

It was 5:10 p.m. EDT, and they had just received the phone call from Boston telling them the deal was done, ending seven decades of ownership by the Yawkey family and its trust.

Players said any changes won't affect the way they play.

"We've got to keep doing our day-to-day business," shortstop Nomar Garciaparra said. "We're getting ready for the season."

Kerrigan's first training camp as a manager has been well-organized without any sign of clubhouse problems. He said he feels secure in his job of preparing the team.

"I've still got a uniform on," he said. "I've got too many things going on to even think about it."

He replaced Jimy Williams, who was fired last season, and went 17-26. Like Williams, he was burdened by injuries and players dissatisfied with playing time.

The first post-closing change was the appointment of David Ginsberg as vice chairman. A business associate of Henry, he delivered news of the closing to Henry and Lucchino.

Other changes had to wait.

"Today is a day for celebration," Lucchino said. "We want to sit down and discuss some matters and proceed with the new Red Sox."

The purchase includes 80 percent of New England Sports Network plus $40 million in assumed debt. The price more than doubled the previous record for a baseball franchise -- $323 million paid by Larry Dolan for the Cleveland Indians in 2000.

Thomas Yawkey bought the Red Sox from J.A. Robert Quinn in 1933. When Yawkey died in 1976, his wife took over. She willed all her holdings to the Jean R. Yawkey Trust, which John Harrington oversaw.

"I'm proud to have been part of the Yawkey baseball era," Harrington said, "and I think Tom and Jean would be pleased to see their team passing on to a group with outstanding baseball experience, a passion for the game, and a commitment to our community."

The Red Sox announced the agreement Dec. 20, but the deal was delayed as losing bidders tried to restart the auction, and Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly investigated whether the Yawkey Trust, which owned 53 percent of the team, would receive fair value.

Reilly withdrew his objections and baseball owners approved the deal Jan. 16 by a 29-0 vote with one abstention, the New York Yankees.

And now, the Red Sox belong to Henry -- who also completed the purchase of a house in the Boston area Wednesday -- and his partners.

"It felt a little surreal because it's just been so long," he said. "It seemed like a good baseball game. It was always in doubt until the end."

 

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