Sam Kennedy is setting a higher bar for the Boston Red Sox next year.
The Red Sox snapped a three-year playoff drought to earn an American League wild-card spot with an 89-73 record in 2025. Kennedy wants the organization to clear another significant hurdle in 2026.
Boston’s team president said on NESN’s “310 To Left” that the Red Sox are focused on capturing a division title.
“We need to build on what he saw this year to try and take that next step forward,” Kennedy said. “And yes, the American League East needs to be the goal. Winning the American League East.”
Boston’s playoff bid didn’t last long this October. The Red Sox lost a three-game AL Wild Card Series, all on the road, to the New York Yankees.
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Kennedy wants to avoid those same circumstances next year. The top-two division winners receive a first-round bye, and the division champion with the third-best record at least hosts the Wild Card Series.
“It’s really, really hard to play 162 (games) and then be subject to the randomness of a very short series,” Kennedy said. “The postseason is random enough. Those short series are very random, and we really want to get to that next level and try to win the American League East.”
Although they fell short of their first AL East and World Series title since 2018, the Red Sox have plenty of positives to take from the 2025 campaign.
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“We felt like we took a significant step forward as an organization,” Kennedy said. “No popping champagne on a year where you fall short of your ultimate goal. That said, it was well-deserved champagne for getting back into the postseason.”
Kennedy believes the Red Sox are “really well-positioned” to take another leap but acknowledged they still must work to reach loftier heights.
“I think we took a big step,” Kennedy said, “but we got a long way to go.”
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