News
Angels extend GM Reagins' contract
Club's architect took helm following 2007 campaign
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com
11/06/09 6:13 PM EST
ANAHEIM -- Angels general manager Tony Reagins has been rewarded by club owner Arte Moreno with a long-term contract extension, the club announced on Friday.Reagins, 42, succeeded Bill Stoneman as GM in October 2007 when he signed a three-year contract. No terms of the new deal were disclosed.
With the signing of Bobby Abreu on Thursday to a two-year deal with an option for 2012, Reagins began what promises to be an exceptionally busy offseason.
The club has six free agents poised to enter the market -- John Lackey, Chone Figgins, Vladimir Guerrero, Darren Oliver, Robb Quinlan and Kelvim Escobar -- along with eight arbitration cases he hopes to resolve.
"We feel comfortable in getting deals with all of them," Reagins said, referring to his arbitration-eligible players: pitchers Jered Weaver and Joe Saunders, catchers Jeff Mathis and Mike Napoli, infielders Howard Kendrick, Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturis, and outfielder Reggie Willits.
The Angels won their third consecutive American League West title this season, sweeping Boston in three games in the AL Division Series before losing to the Yankees in six games in the AL Championship Series.
"I would like to thank the Moreno Family for their support and confidence as we continue our goal of winning World [Series] championships," Reagins said in a club press release. "It is an honor to work with a tremendous group of professionals, both on the baseball and business side of our organization.
"The vision of this organization, and the dedication of our employees for improvement on a daily basis, makes my role extremely gratifying."
Reagins made a big splash in his second month on the job in 2007, acquiring starter Jon Garland from the White Sox for shortstop Orlando Cabrera and signing center fielder Torii Hunter to a five-year free agent deal.
Reagins' next big move was a blockbuster at the Trade Deadline in July 2008. The Angels acquired first baseman Mark Teixeira from Atlanta for first baseman Casey Kotchman and pitcher Steve Marek.
After Teixeira signed a free-agent deal with the Yankees last offseason and closer Francisco Rodriguez departed for the Mets, Reagins signed outfielder Bobby Abreu, closer Brian Fuentes and retained outfielder Juan Rivera.
Another in-season swap developed on Aug. 28 when Reagins dealt for Rays southpaw Scott Kazmir, sending three prospects to Tampa Bay.
The Angels are 197-127 record (.608 winning percentage) during Reagins' first two seasons as GM.
In the afterglow of the Angels' 100-win 2008 season, Reagins was named winner of the Andrew "Rube" Foster Award as the American League Executive of the Year at the 2008 Legacy Awards sponsored by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.
Reagins has spent 18 seasons in the Angels' organization. For six years before succeeding Stoneman as GM, he served as the club's director of player development.
During that period, Angels affiliates reached the playoffs 18 times, with 15 division titles and three league titles. The Angels' farm system posted winning records in four of the six seasons and was named Minor League Organization of the Year in 2003 by The Sporting News.
A native of Indio, Calif., Reagins began his career with the Angels as an intern in baseball operations in 1992. He graduated from California State University-Fullerton in 1991 with a degree in marketing after earning an associates degree in business administration from the College of the Desert in 1988.
Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
