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Lucchino speaks . . . sort of

Larry Lucchino -- the general public's designated villain in the Theo Epstein negotiations -- has been incommunicado since Epstein made the decision not to accept the Red Sox' offer a contract extension. He has declined all media requests for interviews, including one from WEEI Radio's Dennis and Callahan Show, on which he appears weekly during the regular season.

But Friday evening, the Red Sox released a statement in which Lucchino, the team's president and CEO, was quoted liberally.

It had nothing to do with Epstein, however. It was about the upcoming general managers meetings at Palm Springs, Calif., where the Red Sox -- in the absence of Epstein -- will be represented by director of player development Ben Cherington, assistant to the GM Jed Hoyer, special assistant to the GM Craig Shipley, and director of baseball operations Peter Woodford.

``While the general managers meetings traditionally represent a time when clubs lay groundwork for moves that could potentially be made at the winter meetings or later in the offseason, the Red Sox head to Palm Springs open for business,'' Lucchino said in the statement, which was released last evening by the team.

``Our baseball operations team is armed with an offseason plan and a list of priorities. Like 29 other clubs, they are certainly heading to Palm Springs to listen and gather information for later in the winter, but, make no mistake, they are also empowered to spak with other clubs and with agents and to consummate any deal they feel will be in the best interests of the Boston Red Sox.

``This group has the full confidence of the ownership and management of the Red Sox.

``In addition to meeting with clubs to discuss trade possibilities, we do expect our baseball operations staff will have conversations with agents for several of our current free agents as well as representatives for other players on this winter's free-agent market. We hope and expect it will be a useful week for the Red Sox.''

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art  at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments 3