Larry Lucchino to step down as Red Sox CEO/president

Larry Lucchino’s tenure as the Boston Red Sox’s president and CEO is about to come to an end after 13 years, he told the Boston Globe.

“I’ll be 70 in September. That’s sort of why I’m ready to step back,’’ Lucchino said.

Lucchino joined the team in 2002, and has helped oversee the organization through unprecedented success, including the Red Sox making seven postseason appearances and winning three World Series titles in 2004, '07 and '13. He also won a World Series while a member of the Baltimore Orioles in 1983.

In November 2002, Lucchino and the Red Sox hired Bill James, one of the founders of baseball’s sabermetrics movement, and appointed 28-year-old Theo Epstein general manager. Using an analytical approach to running the team, Epstein snapped Boston’s 86-year World Series title drought. He left for the Chicago Cubs after the 2011 season.

Boston entered Saturday with 46-58 record this season, 13 games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East. The Red Sox lost 11 of their first 15 games after the All-Star break, doubling their deficit in the division. Their starting pitchers, five of whom they acquired via trade or signing in the past year, have combined for 4.89 ERA, last in the AL. If the standings hold, the Red Sox will finish last in the East for the second straight year.

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Executive vice president and COO Sam Kennedy will replace Lucchino by the end of the year, principal owner John Henry confirmed on Saturday.

"(Kennedy) has been a much-sought after baseball executive over the past 10 years," Henry said in a statement. "At least one sports franchise a year has offered him their presidency, but he knew this day would eventually come. We are grateful that he stayed here."