The Boston Red Sox might not visit the White House after all.
The 2018 World Series champions are scheduled to visit Washington on Feb. 15. But the ongoing government shutdown — which, as of Saturday, was in its 28th day — has the organization reconsidering.
“It’s tough with the government shutdown,” team owner John Henry said Friday at the Red Sox’s annual Winter Weekend, via NBC Sports Boston’s Evan Drellich. “It’s something we’ll be watching.”
Added Red Sox co-owner and chairman Tom Werner: “It’s our intention to go. We went when President (George) Bush honored the team, we went when President (Barack) Obama honored the team, and we look at it as a way to celebrate what the team accomplished. But as John said, it’s awkward if there’s a shutdown.”
And here’s what team president and CEO Sam Kennedy said about the matter Saturday morning:
Sam Kennedy said the Red Sox owners talked weighed the planned White House visit in terms of their own personal views, but settled on what they have in the past, that it’s about giving the players an opportunity to celebrate at, visit White House
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) January 19, 2019
Red Sox manager Alex Cora also is having second thoughts, but not just because of the shutdown.
“We’ll see what happens,” Cora said Friday, via MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “There’s a lot of stuff going on right now as far as the government and the shutdown and all that. So we’ll see. And there’s a few things that have come up the last 10 days with Puerto Rico, too. It’s a topic that back home is huge.
“But like I said, if I go, I’ll represent Puerto Rico the right way. I don’t know what kind of platform I’m going to have if I go. It’s not that I’ve changed my mind. But we’ll see what happens in the upcoming days.”
If the Red Sox ultimately elect to visit United States President Donald Trump, they reportedly won’t bring their entire World Series-winning roster. As previous champions also have done, Boston is not requiring its players to attend.
Red Sox leaving it up to each player to decide whether or not he'll attend the White House visit.
— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) January 18, 2019
A few Red Sox players have already told the front office that they’re skipping the White House visit.
— Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) January 19, 2019
Eduardo Nunez said he’s still deciding whether to go to White House. Declined to elaborate on what he’s weighing
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) January 19, 2019
Rafael Devers said he's not going to go to the White House. Said it’s not a matter of politics, just that he wants to focus on his spring training and baseball
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) January 19, 2019
Should the Red Sox decide to go, Henry and members of the team’s front office will make the trip.
“If the team goes, we’ll go,” Henry said, via Drellich.
Brian Johnson, Blake Swihart, Ryan Brasier and Brock Holt are among the players who have publicly committed to visiting the White House.
