October 16, 2007

Angels promote Reagins to GM

By: JEFF SANDERS - Staff Writer

The title shifted to a new face Tuesday. The organization's philosophy, with the former farm director now calling the shots, likely will not.

"If it improves the club, if it makes us better, we're willing to look at options," new general manager Tony Reagins said after the team announced Stoneman's move to a senior advisor at a press conference at Angel Stadium. "I'm not going to make a trade for the sake of making a trade."

The Angels have made few impact trades since the 2002 squad won the World Series as a wild-card entrant. Since then, the Angels' three American League West title runs -- as many as the franchise compiled in its first 41 years of existence -- failed to produce a World Series berth, with much of the failure falling on an offense that didn't amount to much more than Vladimir Guerrero and a supporting cast in dire need of a shot in the arm.

Mark Teixeira's name surfaced this year. Last year, it was Alfonso Soriano and Miguel Tejada.

The cost? Varied assortments of minor leaguers and current players.

Stoneman, though, never strayed from his commitment to a farm system he helped cultivate. Standing before the podium Tuesday afternoon, fighting back tears as he moved into the new role he'll have the next three seasons, the 63-year-old former big league pitcher spoke of his position's demands, which he said led to his exit eight years after succeeding Bill Bavasi as the franchise's ninth general manager.

"I'm getting older," Stoneman said. "You have to face that, and this job requires a ton of energy.

"I really don't have the same energy I brought to the job. The main thing is, I was worn down and I didn't think it would be right to continue. ... It was better for the Angels that I step aside."

He does so with a track record that will survive recent criticisms from media and fans, whose expectations were raised the moment the team won its first world championship.

That journey began when Stoneman named former Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia the Angels' manager two weeks after joining the organization. The Angels won 12 more games the next season and two years later made their first postseason appearance since 1986 with a franchise-record 99-win season.

Highlights of his tenure include signing Guerrero, the 2004 AL MVP, and right-hander Bartolo Colon, the 2005 AL Cy Young winner; trading for Chone Figgins; picking up David Eckstein off waivers; moving disgruntled outfielder Jose Guillen for Juan Rivera and Maicer Izturis; and building a farm system that produced key contributors to the 2007 AL West champions.

"I think Bill's done a great job of laying the foundation for where we are now," Scioscia said via a teleconference from South Bend, Ind. "I know Tony has the same vision for where we want to go. The continuity will be there."

The experience, though, will be a question at the start.

Reagins -- an Indio High School graduate who earned a degree in marketing from Cal State Fullerton and an AA degree in business administration from College of the Desert -- joined the Angels in 1993 as an intern. His climb to the general manager's seat included a four-year stint as the team's baseball operations managers and six years as the farm director. During that time, Angels' affiliates reaches the playoffs 18 times, captured 15 division titles and three league championships. The Angels' farm system posted winning records in four of the six seasons and was named the Minor League Organization of the Year in 2003 by The Sporting News.

"I think it's very important to continue to build from within," Angels owner Arte Moreno said. "(Tony's promotion) makes for an easy transition. We're familiar with where we've been. Now we're trying to figure out how to reach our goals."

Moreno said Stoneman would continue to serve as an advisor. Additionally, assistant general manager Ken Forsch, scouting director Eddie Bane and special assistant Gary Sutherland will continue in their current positions -- all of them will serve as guides for Reagins, whose negotiations experience is limited to dealing with agents representing six-year free agents, which are not high-salaried players.

Representatives fighting for multi-million dollar contracts -- like Alex Rodriguez's super agent, Scott Boras -- present a much different challenge than those negotiating contracts for players hoping to simply make a roster, Reagins conceded. Building a rapport with opposing teams' general managers will also present a new challenge.

"I'm ready for the challenge," said Reagins, who worked with Stoneman, Bavasi, Whitey Herzog and Dan O'Brien. "I've worked for four GMs. Each one of them had talents and skills that were unique. I got the opportunity to pick their brains."

Said Stoneman: "I've known Tony since coming on the job here. This is one of the brightest, most energetic guys I know. He's able to get things done."

It was also announced Tuesday that Abe Flores, the baseball operations manager, was promoted to player development director. Tory Hernandez, the Angels' player performance analyst, will become the baseball operations manager.