Ruben Amaro Jr. was the most popular coach at the Boston Red Sox’ 2016 winter caravan.
Amaro had recently been hired as the Red Sox’ first-base coach after seven seasons as general manager of the Phillies. For most of his last year in that job, he engaged several teams, including the Sox, about trading for Cole Hamels before finally sending the ace pitcher to the Texas Rangers.
So, upon meeting Amaro at the Red Sox’ annual January fan festival at a casino in Connecticut, rightfielder Mookie Betts, catcher Blake Swihart and others had one burning question: How close did any of them actually get to becoming Phillies?