By: Matt Rappa, managing editor 
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Former Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is still getting acclimated to his new role as first base coach of the Boston Red Sox, with just over one week to go before they begin Grapefruit League, spring training action on Wednesday, March 2, against the Minnesota Twins.
One of the last acts Amaro Jr. had in his role in Philadelphia was the July 31, 2015, trade of 2008 World Series Most Valuable Player Cole Hamels and bullpen reliever Jake Diekman to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Alec Asher, Jerad Eickhoff, Matt Harrison and minor-leaguers Jorge Alfaro, Jake Thompson and Nick Williams.
Before dealing with Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, however, Amaro Jr. long-coveted some of the Red Sox' top young talent in exchange for Hamels, including: catcher Blake Swihart, outfielders Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley, along with infielder Xander Bogaerts.
In conversation with Hall of Fame baseball columnist Peter Gammons on Tuesday, Amaro Jr. acknowledged his interest, saying his scouts "did a great job and we asked for the right players" from Boston in exchange for the veteran southpaw:
Ruben Amaro:"Now I know my scouts did a great job and we asked for the right players for Hamels(Swihart, Betts, Bradley, Bogaerts)."
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) February 23, 2016
On Dec. 26, 2014, over 30 weeks prior to Hamels' trade to the Rangers, Gammons reported that the Red Sox would not include Betts nor Swihart in any deal involving the left-hander:
The Red Sox made it clear when they opened talks about Hamels that they will not deal Mookie Betts, who is clearly a regular and he who wills the vital role of leadoff hitter . . . They will also not trade catcher Blake Swihart.
The Red Sox may have been a trade partner with the Phillies last season had they not fallen to last place in the American League East division with a final record of 78-84. By July 31, they were in a similar standing, trailing the division-leading New York Yankees by 13 games.
The Rangers, on the other hand, were 49-52 entering the non-waive trade deadline day and sat eight games behind the unproven, young Houston Astros team that featured eventual American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel.
As the season progresses, expect Amaro Jr. to give additional insight into some of the moves he made while as general manager in Philadelphia. Amaro Jr. may eventually reach his goal of becoming manager one day, and Phillies front office executive Pat Gillick credited him being capable for such role on Saturday in conversation with the New York Times.
In addition to being the first base coach for the Red Sox this season, Amaro Jr. will also be an outfield instructor.
Time will tell how Amaro Jr. will succeed in Boston, as the Red Sox seek to return to postseason play for the first time since their World Series championship season in 2013.
