BOSTON -- For more than a year, Ruben Amaro Jr. dispatched the Philadelphia Phillies' army of scouts to mine the Boston Red Sox for talent in case the teams ever got serious about a trade. And every report he read predictably featured one name above almost all others: Mookie Betts.
That was hardly a surprise, of course. Betts is a rare blend of speed and power, an all-around athlete who rose through the minor leagues with the promise of being an All-Star in the majors. But it wasn’t until this season, when Amaro descended from the general manager ranks and joined the Red Sox’s coaching staff, that he realized just how special Betts really is.