Report: Larry Lucchino stepping down as Red Sox president and CEO

(Getty Images) The Boston Red Sox are about to experience a major shakeup.

According to Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe, team preisdent and CEO Larry Lucchino will officially relinquish his posts later this year when his contract expires.

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald adds that the Red Sox have been exploring a succession plan for Lucchino for some time. With his contract running out, it was decided that now’s the time to put that plan into action and take away Lucchino’s everyday responsibilities.

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Executive vice president and COO Sam Kennedy will take over for Lucchino, which was another key factor according to the Herald report. The Red Sox wanted to promote Kennedy now, rather than risk losing him down the road.

Kennedy will formally assume his new duties at the end of October, but has already begun slowly transitioning into the role. Kennedy isn’t expected to contribute to baseball operations, the report adds.

Here’s what Kennedy had to say about his promotion.

“There’s been a longstanding transition plan in place for when Larry was ready to take a step back from the day-to-day. I know what a privilege it is to work for the Red Sox. I grew up a mile from Fenway and I fully embrace the responsibility that will come with this opportunity. I’m grateful to Larry for his mentorship and John and Tom for their confidence in me.”

While the news doesn’t come as a complete shock, it’s still the end of a historic era in Red Sox history and even in Boston sports history.

Lucchino, who turns 70 in September, has been with the team since 2002, when he was one-third of a new ownership group that included John Henry and Tom Werner. Lucchino has overseen nearly every aspect of the Red Sox organization since, including helping the franchise end an 86-year World Series championship drought in 2004.

The Red Sox went on to add two more championships under Lucchino’s watch, in 2007 and 2013, and helped return the team to MLB’s upper echelon.

Of course, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Lucchino also drew criticism for his decision to hire Bobby Valentine as Boston’s manager before the 2012 season. He doesn’t leave the team on the highest of notes either, with Boston seemingly poised for a second straight last place finish coming off the 2013 championship.

“We’ve won three world championships under his leadership and set the longest sellout streak in professional sports history,” principal owner John Henry said. “His accomplishments are many and will have a lasting impact.”

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“This year has been a clear disappointment on the field and a huge disappointment to our fans who deserve much better. We have begun transitioning personnel,” Henry said. “The trade deadline will not blunt that effort. The last two months of the season will have more of a focus on youth and on the future. We have been stockpiling exciting young players we think will excite fans the rest of this year and particularly next year and beyond as they mature.”

The good definitely outweighs the bad, and history should reflect very fondly on Lucchino’s time in charge in Boston. Now it’s time for the next in line to inherit the hot seat.

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