Source: Former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro to be Boston's first-base coach

— -- Former Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. will be making a rare transition in 2016, when he returns to the playing field as the Boston Red Sox's new first-base coach.

A baseball source confirmed the pending hiring, which was first reported Saturday by the Boston Globe.

Amaro, 50, took over as the Phillies' GM shortly after the team won the 2008 World Series and held the role until September, when incoming president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail announced the club would not be renewing his contract. The Phillies have hired Los Angeles Angels assistant GM Matt Klentak as Amaro's replacement, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com, although they have yet to make a formal announcement.

Amaro, the son of former big leaguer Ruben Amaro Sr., spent eight years in the major leagues as an outfielder with the Angels, Phillies and Indians. He was a .235 career hitter in 485 games with those three clubs from 1991-98.

Last month, Nick Cafardo of the Globe reported that Amaro had retained Bob Lamonte, a prominent agent for NFL coaches and executives, to help promote him as a potential GM or manager to MLB clubs.

The Miami Marlins bucked tradition in May when they fired manager Mike Redmond and moved general manager Dan Jennings to the dugout to replace him. Jennings guided the Marlins to a 55-69 record and has since returned to his role in the front office, while the Marlins are conducting a search for a new manager.

Amaro replaces former Red Sox first-base coach Arnie Beyeler, who was not retained for the 2016 season.