Former Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro was named first base coach of the Boston Red Sox Monday.
Amaro worked in the Phillies’ front office from 1998 until September 2015, when he was informed Philadelphia was going a different direction.
Amaro took over the GM’s job from Pat Gillick in November 2008 after the team won the World Series. The Phillies returned to the World Series the next season, but lost to the New York Yankees.
The Phillies haven’t made it to the postseason for the past four seasons after winning the NL East from 2009-11.
It was an unusual move for the Red Sox to take someone from a front office position to a field position, but may indicate Amaro’s desire to become a manager.
He was an eight-year MLB veteran with the Angels, Phillies, and Indians, playing mostly the outfield, but some at first and second base as well.
Amaro said he had been thinking about working at the field level and when he was dismissed by the Phillies, it opened up that opportunity.
“I guess it is unusual, but for me, I’ve always had kind of an itch to be back on the field,” Amaro told redsox.com. “Clearly, I had a great opportunity to work in the front office with Philadelphia for many, many years. All the while, when you sit from that seat, there’s always an observation as a [former] player for many years, it’s always been something I’ve thought about quite a bit.”
He will also be the team’s outfield instructor.