Boston Red Sox hire Ruben Amaro Jr. as first base coach

Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports that the Boston Red Sox will hire former Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. as their next first base coach. Amaro was fired from his post in Philadelphia in September.

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The move is not only a demotion for Amaro, but also a curious move in general. Movement between the front office and on-field coaching staff has long been an uncommon thing in the game of baseball, though the trend has started to become slightly more normal of late. Former Nationals bench coach Randy Knorr has joined the club’s front office in an advisory role, former Angels executive Scott Servais is on tab to be the new manager for the Mariners, and Marlins general manager Dan Jennings stepped into the dugout to take over the reigns as manager after relieving Mike Redmond of his duties early this season.

It won’t be Amaro’s first taste of on-field action, as he played eight major-league seasons with the Angels, Indians and Phillies. He doesn’t have any previous coaching experience, however, as he joined the Phillies as an assistant general manager after retiring as a player in 1998.

Cafardo reported earlier this month that Amaro has interest in managing, and his new gig in Boston could very well be the first step towards achieving that. There hadn’t been any previous reports linking Amaro to Boston in any capacity, however, though the former Phillies GM did have a brief overlap with John Farrell in 1995 when they both played for the Cleveland Indians.

Next: Nationals Schedule Second Interviews With Baker, Black

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