Los Angeles Angels' General Manager Tony Reagins resigned on Friday after his club missed the playoffs for the second straight season. The Angels' lack of success this season with an initial payroll at $139 million, combined with several controversial personnel and front office moves along the way helped put the writing on the wall for Reagins. Angels' owner Arte Moreno released a statement, saying:
"Though we finished 2011 with a winning record, we remained short of our objective in winning a championship. In moving forward, we felt a change was needed. Throughout his career, Tony has meant a great deal to this organization, and represented the Angels with the utmost loyalty and dedication. He will always remain part of the Angels family."
The Angels went 86-76 but finished 10 games out of the division lead and 5 games behind the Rays for the Wild Card spot. Curiously, Reagins will stay with the Angels' organization as a special assistant to club president Dennis Kuhl. What that job description entails is anybody's guess.
Reagins had this to say on his departure:
"I definitely had thought about this decision over the last 30 days. Arte wants to win. At the end of the day, if you perform, you get rewarded. If you don't ... you have to be held accountable. I don't have any regrets with any of the decisions I made."
That may be true, but his choice to pass on many big name free agents last winter and instead trade for outfielder Vernon Wells did not help to strengthen his position with the team. Wells was acquired for longtime Angels' catcher Mike Napoli, and despite making $26 million in his first year with the team, hit only .218 with 25 homers.