Mets first base coach Ruben Amaro Jr. responsible for the monstrous Phillies

New York Mets first base coach Ruben Amaro Jr. spent years as the Philadelphia Phillies general manager. In 2018, one of his biggest moves is hurting the Mets.

Before first base coach Ruben Amaro Jr. was helping New York Mets stretch a single into a double, he was the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2018, the monster he created is hurting the Mets.

Amaro didn’t receive rave reviews during his tenure in Philadelphia. The team went from an elite squad to the worst in baseball. He made some big moves, but many of them were obvious ones. Who wouldn’t sign Cliff Lee or trade for Roy Halladay?

One of Amaro’s final transactions before receiving his pink slip involved trading star pitcher Cole Hamels. Amaro sent Hamels to the Texas Rangers for a haul of prospects. Many of them are now with the Phillies, prepared to take down anyone who stands in their way.

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In Sunday’s finale against the Phillies, Nick Williams smacked a pinch-hit home run for Philadelphia. Williams is one of those players Amaro acquired from the Rangers. The other noteworthy prospects the Phillies added include Jorge Alfaro, Jerad Eickhoff, and Jake Thompson.

When we think about what the Mets could get if they were to do the unthinkable and trade Jacob deGrom, this is the trade I think of. deGrom is about the same age as Hamels was when he went from Philadelphia to Texas. The big difference is that Hamels had already signed his big contract. deGrom has yet to get one of his own.

That’s neither here nor there. What matters is that this team now employs the guy who helped turn the Phillies into a threat one of the biggest threats in their division.

Back when Amaro sat in the GM’s chair for the Phillies, no one would have guessed he’d one day transition into an on-field role. More surprising, he’s doing it as a member of Philadelphia’s biggest rival.

Amaro didn’t transition straight to coaching first base in New York. He had a brief stint with the Boston Red Sox prior, also working as the first base coach up in Beantown. This lasted for only two seasons. Now in New York and back representing the NL East, he’s closer to his Phillies roots.

Things like this do equal out. After all, current Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos is responsible for sending Noah Syndergaard to the Mets. You better believe he never envisioned dealing with Thor regularly back when he was in the Toronto Blue Jays’ front office.

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It must be hard for Amaro to see his creation, the Hamels trade, benefit the Phillies and hurt the Mets. Time will only tell how much pain his success on the way out of a previous job causes his current one.