Former Red Sox Coach Named Potential GM Candidate By MLB Insider
After the Boston Red Sox completed a three-game sweep of the last-place Washington Nationals on Sunday, managing principal owner Mark Lerner responded by firing general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez.
The Nationals named Mike DeBartolo the interim GM. As Washington searches for a permanent replacement for Rizzo, here’s one name to keep in mind: Ruben Amaro Jr.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, while reporting on problems with the Colorado Rockies, named several potential GM candidates in the next hiring cycle. Amaro, who was the Red Sox first base coach in 2016 and 2017, made Rosenthal’s list.
“A number of former GMs with no ties to the Rockies, from Dayton Moore to James Click to Ruben Amaro Jr., also could be candidates, both in Washington and Colorado,” Rosenthal wrote Tuesday.
Amaro, 60, would be an interesting candidate. He previously served as general manager of the Phillies from 2008 to 2015, taking over for Hall of Famer Pat Gillick after Philadelphia won the 2008 World Series.
Amaro’s front office career began in 1998 as assistant GM for Ed Wade. Amaro, a Philadelphia native, spent seven seasons working with Wade, followed by three with Gillick.
Amaro’s career as an executive followed eight big-league seasons as an outfielder for the Phillies, California Angels and Cleveland Indians.
After his time in Boston, Amaro was first base coach for the New York Mets in 2018. He moved back into the front office after the 2018 season, serving as an advisor to Mets rookie GM Brodie Van Wagenen.
Amaro initially joined the Phillies in 1980 as a bat boy for the club. His father, Ruben Amaro Sr., was Philadelphia’s first base coach that year. Amaro Sr. had an 11-year MLB career and won a Gold Glove Award playing shortstop and first base for the Phillies in 1964.
Currently, Amaro Jr. serves as an analyst for Phillies broadcasts and teaches “Inside the Front Office” for the Sports Communication and Media program at Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J.