We remember the scene. How could we forget?

John Henry walking through Fenway Park on a rainy day with Billy Beane after the 2002 season and then going up to the press box, where Henry slipped Beane a piece of paper. On it was a five-year, $12.5 million offer.

At the time it was a record-breaking offer for a general manager. Beane was the hottest thing going in baseball. He was the inventor of Moneyball, and Henry wanted that model for his organization. The concept was simple: get the best players for the smallest payroll possible.

But Henry didn’t get his man. Beane remembers being flattered and honored. He thought about what it would mean to be the head baseball operations guy in Boston. But he turned it down. He wanted to watch his daughter Casey grow up. She was 12 at the time. He wanted to be close to his parents. He vowed that he wouldn’t base his life solely on money.

About 15 years have passed since that Fenway encounter, and Beane, now 55 and in his 20th year running the Oakland A’s, says he has no regrets.

“It turned out pretty well for the Red Sox and I have had a great run here and have enjoyed it here a great deal,’’ he said. “We’ve had our challenges, mostly stadium related, but we’ve had our successes and failures, but I never regretted the decision I made.

“I can’t believe it’s been 15 years. Looking back, I knew what I was turning down. I had known John even before that meeting and thought the world of him and Tom [Werner]. Look at what happened. Turning it down meant that Theo Epstein was in charge. And we know the rest of the story. I knew that the Red Sox, with John and Tom and Larry [Lucchino] were the best. They had built the best organization in the game and they had this bright young man in Theo who had great ideas of how to build a baseball organization. So no regrets. I got to build our organization with the help of some great people, and foremost for me, I got to watch my daughter grow up. She’s 27 now, but I was there and I didn’t miss a thing.’’

However, as Beane tells it, “When she was looking at colleges, Boston College was high on her list. I joked with her, ‘So now you tell me?’ She wound up going to school in Ohio, but it was a funny coincidence that Boston College was so prominent.’’

Beane has faced challenges in Oakland that most GMs never encounter. As he watched the landscape of baseball change so rapidly with new stadiums popping up all around, his team played at the Oakland Coliseum, sharing the outdated facility with the NFL’s Raiders.

Efforts by A’s ownership to secure a new stadium were rebuffed time and time again. They tried to move to San Jose, where a new stadium awaited them, but the Giants would not relinquish their territorial rights to that area, and the A’s bid to move to Silicon Valley with its rich resources died quickly.

But Beane said that, for the first time since he’s been with the A’s, he feels a sense of optimism now. The Raiders are moving to Las Vegas and the A’s will be the only game in town. Beane said new team president DavidKaval has worked “25 hours a day to get something done and I think we’re getting close.’’

The A’s now believe they will stay in Oakland.

For years, Beane’s hands have been tied.

“It’s affected us in a lot of ways in terms of player acquisition. We haven’t been able to attract the bigger-name free agents. We don’t have the resources that other big-market teams have,’’ he said.

In fact, this past offseason, the A’s thought they had a nice path to signing Edwin Encarnacion, whose price had dropped to where the A’s were in the hunt. But Oakland lost out to the Indians.

Beane has been able to “go for it’’ over the years since he turned down the Red Sox’ offer. At the trading deadline in 2014, he acquired Jon Lester from Boston for Yoenis Cespedes. Beane knew Lester was a rental and that he wouldn’t be able to re-sign him, nor would he be able to re-sign Cespedes. Lester pitched very well for the A’s until he blew up in the AL wild-card loss to Kansas City.

Beane took heat for dealing top shortstop prospect Addison Russell to the Cubs two weeks prior to the Lester deal to acquire Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. That offseason, Beane dealt Josh Donaldson to Toronto.

Since 2003, the A’s have made the playoffs five times (losing the ALCS in 2006) and finished last three times. From 2000 to 2003, Oakland lost four straight ALDS series.

As for his relationship with Henry, Beane said, “We’ve spoken a few times over the years along with Tom. I think we talk more about Liverpool [soccer] than anything else. [The Red Sox have] built a great organization. They have everyone’s respect in the game.’’

With an improving stadium outlook and the possibility of attracting higher-profile players, Beane believes that baseball in Oakland can thrive again.

ROYAL BLUE

KC may have to break up its core

The Royals were swept in their opening three-game series at Minnesota, and while things won’t stay that bad for Kansas City, understand that the Royals need to be in contention for management to consider keeping the core together.

After winning the World Series in 2015, the Royals knew their championship window could close fast. The core players they so patiently waited for to develop — Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, and Lorenzo Cain — were going to become free agents after this season. Given the Royals’ small-market payroll, the chances of signing any of them is highly unlikely. They decided to re-sign Alex Gordon before the start of the 2016 season, and Gordon had a poor year.

The Royals also face losing shortstop Alcides Escobar in free agency. Pitchers Jason Hammel and Ian Kennedy could be moved at the trade deadline.

Would the Blue Jays have interest in Hosmer if their Justin Smoak/Steve Pearce first base platoon doesn’t pan out? Would the Pirates consider Hosmer if Josh Bell struggles? The Red Sox, Rockies, and Mets are all possible suitors if their first base situations become problematic.

Moustakas, a veteran third baseman, could be in play for the Mets, Giants, and Angels. Cain could be an interesting outfield piece for the Giants, Dodgers, Tigers, Rangers, and Mets.

Apropos of nothing

1. So what happened to the reinforced rule that base coaches must stay in their boxes? Coaches around the league are defying this edict because they believe it doesn’t make any sense. Third base coaches in particular need to get into the best position to see the base runner, and by starting in the coaches’ box they don’t feel comfortable. It doesn’t appear that MLB is enforcing the rule. The league has been on Red Sox third base coach Brian Butterfield at times for drifting onto the field on a ball hit in the left-field corner so he can follow the ball’s path. Butterfield never impedes the runner or interferes with the play. He quickly scoots back into foul territory. Fenway definitely has its quirks when it comes to plays down the lines.

2. Las Vegas really wants a Major League Baseball team, especially after the city secured the NFL’s Raiders. It appears Rob Manfred is open to this if the situation is right. It will be interesting to see whether any expansion or relocation plans lead the league to Vegas or Montreal first.

3. Bovada Casino says the Pirates’ Clint Hurdle is the favorite to be the first manager fired, at 7/2 odds. Not sure about that one. The Reds’ Bryan Price is 4/1, the Angels’ Mike Scioscia is 5/1, the Twins’ Paul Molitor is 6/1, the Tigers’ Brad Ausmus is 13/2, and the Padres’ Andy Green is 15/2. The Red Sox’ John Farrell is 10th at 16/1.

4. Bobby Doerr turned 99 on Friday. He’s the oldest living major leaguer, oldest living Hall of Famer, and the last surviving player who played in the 1930s.

5. According to Elias, the Reds had the youngest Opening Day roster at 26.4 years old, while the Blue Jays were the oldest at 30.7.

6. SABR’s Bill Dean noted that Mark Teixeira finished his career with 1,862 hits in 1,862 games. The major leaguer with the most hits and an equal number of games was Luis Gonzalez with 2,591.

Updates on nine

1. Rich Hill, LHP, Dodgers — Hill was hit with a pitch in his first start but told this reporter, “I’m fine, no issues at all.’’ Well, except for one — another blister, which landed him on the 10-day DL. Hill had blister problems last year as well.

2. Mike Pagliarulo, hitting coach, Marlins — The organization feels it has really upgraded its offense by hiring Pagliarulo to replace Barry Bonds. Bonds certainly knows hitting as well as anyone, but communicating it and devoting himself to it became an issue and the Marlins knew they needed to make a change. Pagliarulo, from Medford, hit the ground running, meeting with every Marlins hitter in the offseason and creating a plan for each guy.

3. Koji Uehara, RHP, Cubs — Cubs personnel couldn’t wait to pounce on Uehara in free agency. One issue was where he slotted in pay-wise. They knew they didn’t want to go to $9 million, Uehara’s salary the previous two seasons with the Red Sox, so they hoped a $6 million offer would trump the Red Sox’, and it did. Uehara is 42, but the Cubs believe that he’s throwing the ball as well as he ever has. The Red Sox seem to miss him already. The Cubs will follow the Red Sox’ plan on when to use him and when to back off.

4. Melvin Upton Jr., OF, free agent — The chances of Upton being picked up appear good, according to one AL evaluator. “You just never know when you get him on the uptick and that feeling is what teams are going to look for when they need an outfielder. You’ll probably see some team pick him up and hope for that moment,’’ the evaluator said. Upton is being paid $16.05 million this season, mostly from the Padres.

5. Brad Ausmus, manager, Tigers — Ausmus is operating as a lame duck in 2017. After owner Mike Ilitch died in February, his son Chris Ilitch assumed control of the team. He wants to reduce the payroll and build through the farm system. Mike Ilitch was fond of Ausmus, so it was expected that Ausmus had an extension in his future.

6. Ryan Howard, 1B, Braves — John Hart always thinks outside the box. Howard was out there for the taking and the Braves dived in. No risk. If Howard gets up to the big league club he’ll earn $750,000. Howard hit 25 homers last season for the Phillies. No, he isn’t what he used to be, but he still has power against righties. The Braves could use him as a pinch hitter or flip him to an AL team as a DH.

7. Manuel Margot, CF, Padres — Margot, the former Red Sox prospect given up in the Craig Kimbrel deal, not only made the Padres’ Opening Day roster but belted two home runs Friday against the Giants with Matt Cain on the mound. Margot was superb defensively throughout spring training and the Padres were willing to be patient with his offense. But Margot, 22, is already making an impact from the leadoff spot.

8. Doug Fister, RHP, free agent — Fister has refused to sign a minor league deal. Many teams have inquired, but the big righthander wants a major league deal. So far, nobody’s biting. The Mets were the latest to inquire. Fister will have to change his posture if he wants to pitch this season. He’d have to pitch minor league innings anyway to get ready.

9. Bartolo Colon, RHP, Braves — Colon is the oldest player in the majors at 43, while Blue Jays reliever Jason Grilli is the oldest player in the American League at 40 years 5 months. Padres catcher Luis Torrens is the youngest player in the majors at 20 years 11 months, while Royals infielder Raul Mondesi Jr. is the youngest in the AL at 21 years 9 months.

Extra innings

From the Bill Chuck files: “Justin Verlander struck out 10 in his 6⅓ IP Opening Day win over the White Sox. Verlander now has 38 career 10-plus strikeout games with a record of 29-4 and five (no decisions).’’ Also, “A record total of 259 players (29.8 percent) on 2017 Opening Day 25-man rosters and inactive lists were born outside the United States and represent a record-high 19 countries and territories. The Texas Rangers lead with 14 foreign-born players. The Padres and Mariners have the second-most foreign-born players on their 25-man rosters with 12 each.’’ . . . Happy birthday, Chris Smith (36) and Mike Brumley (54).

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo. Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.