Angels GM Tony Reagins Steps Down: 10 Moves That Cost Reagins His Job

Many people in Anaheim and the surrounding area will look at one particular move that Los Angeles Angels GM Tony Reagins made which may have led to his decision to step down from his post on Friday. However, it may have been a collection of moves that led to his demise.

In a press conference on Friday, Reagins announced his decision to step down after four years as the general manager of the Angels. Reagins will continue working with the Angels in an undisclosed capacity.

"I definitely had thought about this decision over the last 30 days," Reagins said. "I just felt the club needed a fresh perspective and a different direction."

Angels owner Arte Moreno seemed to agree with the decision, based on his statement.

"Though we finished 2011 with a winning record, we remained short of our objective in winning a championship," Moreno said. "In moving forward, we felt a change was needed."

It was the first time since Moreno bought the Angels in 2003 that his team had finished out of the playoffs in two consecutive years.

Many people will no doubt point to Reagins’ decision in January to acquire Vernon Wells from the Toronto Blue Jays for catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera.

Wells was owed $84 million for the remaining four years of his contract, a figure that appeared bloated when Wells originally signed the deal in 2008.

However, was that the only reason that forced the end of Reagins’ tenure as Angels GM?

We will take a look at ten deals/non-deals that may have cost Tony Reagins his job.

Scott Kazmir Trade: August 2009

When the Los Angeles Angels GM was looking for pitching depth down the stretch in the 2009 season to help the Angels for the upcoming postseason, he made the decision to acquire Scott Kazmir from the Tampa Bay Rays for two minor leaguers and a player to be named later. That player turned out to be Sean Rodriguez, now the starting shortstop for the Rays in the ALDS against the Texas Rangers.

At the start, the deal seemed to make sense, as Kazmir posted a 2-2 record and 1.73 ERA in six regular season starts. However in the postseason, Kazmir completely blew up, walking eight batters against just four strikeouts in 10.2 innings.

The 2010 season was a complete wash as well. In 28 starts, Kazmir was 9-15 with a 5.94 ERA, and it clearly looked as if he had lost quite a bit of velocity in his fastball. The numbers certainly indicated that, with a sharp decline in SO/9 ratio (5.6 in 2010 as opposed to 10.4 in 2007).

Kazmir was sent to Arizona during the past offseason, with the Angels insisting that he work on his stamina and strengthen his back muscles.

However the 2011 season started with the same old Kazmir, giving up five runs on five hits, walking two and hitting two batters in just 1.1 innings in a start against the Kansas City Royals. Kazmir was placed on the DL, but it became clear that he was continuing to struggle while rehabbing, and he was given his unconditional release on June 15, with the Angels still owing him over $10 million.

Signing Bobby Abreu to a 2-Year, $19 Million Contract with Vesting Option

In Bobby Abreu’s first full season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2009, he put together a typical Abreu-like season, with a .293 batting average, 15 HR and 103 RBI. Abreu was rewarded with a two-year, $19 million contract, with a vesting option for the 2012 season that kicked in if Abreu reached 1,110 plate appearances in 2010-2011 combined.

Abreu hit 20 HR in 2010, but his average dipped to .255, a full 40 points below his career average. The 2011 season saw a further erosion of Abreu’s skills, as he hit just .253 with eight HR and 60 RBI, the lowest numbers of his career.

Abreu’s vesting option kicked in on July 31, meaning the Angels were on the hook for an additional $9 million for a hitter who clearly is reaching the end of his career.

Fernando Rodney Signed to 2-Year, $11 Million Contract

In 2009, Fernando Rodney was the full-time closer for the Detroit Tigers, posting 37 saves, however with a 4.40 ERA. Tony Reagins saw fit to sign Rodney to a two-year, $11 million deal in December 2009 as a result.

In 2010, Rodney started his career with the Angels as the setup man for closer Brian Fuentes. After Fuentes was dealt to the Minnesota Twins, Rodney ascended to the closer’s role, where he promptly spit the bit, blowing four saves and losing two games while posting a 5.65 ERA for the month.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia named Rodney as his closer to start the 2011 season, however Rodney once again struggled, losing his closer’s job to rookie Jordan Walden. Rodney missed most of June and July with injuries and never regained any semblance of dominance.

Making No Deals at All Before the 2011 Trade Deadline

There were conflicting reports out of Anaheim about whether or not GM Tony Reagins would be allowed to make any moves to strengthen his Angels club for the remainder of the season.

Just a few games behind the Texas Rangers at the time, it appeared that there was some miscommunication regarding whether or not Reagins would be allowed by Angels owner Arte Moreno to spend any money to make upgrades before the deadline. Reagins refuted that a few days later, saying that Moreno had given him permission to seek out deals if they made sense for the good of the club.

However, the trade deadline came and went without the Angels making a single deal to improve themselves for the fight against the Rangers in the AL West or for the AL Wild Card.

With help unavailable at the depleted Triple-A Salt Lake team, the Angels were dead in the water.

Meanwhile, the Rangers acquired relievers Mike Adams and Koji Uehara, bolstering their bullpen for the stretch drive. The Angels bullpen? They tied for the most blown saves during the season.

Inability to Sign Mark Teixeira at the End of 2008 Season

When Angels GM Tony Reagins pulled off the trade that brought first baseman Mark Teixeira over from the Atlanta Braves for Casey Kotchman at the trade deadline in 2008, it was widely considered to be a great deal at the time, but not without risk.

Teixeira was to be a free agent at the end of the season, and the bidding for Teixeira’s services was expected to be high. Teixeira’s numbers for the remainder of the 2008 season were terrific, hitting .358 with 13 HR and 43 RBI in 54 games, and also hitting .467 in the Divisional Series against the Boston Red Sox.

However, Reagins was unable to sign Teixeira during the offseason, as he accepted an eight-year, $180 million deal with the New York Yankees.

Inability to Sign Carl Crawford

It had been widely expected that when Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Carl Crawford hit the free agent market last October, the Los Angeles Angels were the front-runner of the suitors looking to sign Crawford.

Angels right fielder Torii Hunter even entered the fold, wooing Crawford while the two participated in All-Star festivities in Anaheim last July. However, the Boston Red Sox swooped in and made Crawford a seven-year, $142 million offer before the Angels ever even submitted an official offer, and Crawford was off the market.

Inability to Sign Adrian Beltre

After Carl Crawford signed with the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Angels decided to go after the next big fish on the market—free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre, who was coming off a terrific year in Boston, hitting .321 with 28 HR and 102 RBI. Third base was clearly a priority for the Angels in their quest to upgrade the offense.

However, the offer made to Beltre by the Angels, believed to be in the neighborhood of five years and $70 million, was turned down, and Beltre ultimately signed with the AL West rival Texas Rangers for six years and $96 million.

Whiffed again.

There were also other deals that the Angels and Reagins failed to consummate as well, most notably Cliff Lee.

Depletion of Minor League System in Dan Haren and Alberto Callaspo Trades

In 2010, the Los Angeles Angels acquired pitcher Dan Haren and third baseman Alberto Callaspo in two separate deals that cost them five minor league players overall. Along with the minor leaguers sent to Tampa Bay the previous season in the Scott Kazmir trade, Angels GM Tony Reagins severely depleted the minor league depth within the organization.

That lack of depth hurt them this season. With no one to turn to at the higher minor league levels for help during the season, the Angels were hamstrung with respect to call-ups and in trade chips.

Trade for Vernon Wells

When the Los Angeles Angels announced in January that they had completed a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays to acquire center fielder Vernon Wells in exchange for catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera, a collective gasp could be audibly heard within the Anaheim area.

Wells was still owed $84 million in the remaining four years of his contract, and the Blue Jays sent absolutely zero monetary relief in return.

The results of that trade? Wells’ .218 batting average and .248 on-base percentage were both the lowest in the majors among players who qualified for the batting title.

Meanwhile…

Mike Napoli Flipped to AL West Rival Texas Rangers by Blue Jays

Shortly after the Angels shipped catcher Mike Napoli to the Toronto Blue Jays in the trade to acquire Vernon Wells, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos then flipped Napoli to the Texas Rangers in exchange for reliever Frank Francisco. Napoli proceeded to put up the best numbers of his career, hitting .320 with 30 HR and 75 RBI, with the last four homers of the season coming against the Angels.

Angels catchers for the season combined to hit for just a .192 batting average (29th in the majors), .252 on-base percentage (tied for 28th) and .302 slugging percentage (28th).

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.