Angels General Manager Tony Reagins talks about rookie season
BASEBALL
Starting with his controversial Orlando Cabrera trade and heading into the playoffs, the first-year GM has had an eventful year.
Tony Reagins replaced Bill Stoneman as Angels general manager last October and has had an eventful rookie year, trading Orlando Cabrera for Jon Garland and signing Torii Hunter within a one-week period in November and acquiring slugger Mark Teixeira in a blockbuster trade-deadline deal. Reagins discusses a variety of issues, as the Angels prepare to begin the playoffs.
Question: Your most controversial move this past year was your first, the trade of veteran shortstop Orlando Cabrera for pitcher Jon Garland last November. Why were you so comfortable making that deal, given the inexperience of Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturis, who would replace Cabrera at shortstop?
Answer: We knew both of those players are very capable, and having seen Aybar for such a long time . . . I don't think we've even seen the best of Aybar yet. That made it real comfortable for me to make that decision. It was tough move to move O.C. after the year he had, but at some point you have to give your young players a chance. Aybar's upside was high, and I think both he and Izturis can be special players for a long time. It wasn't a real difficult move. It was just a matter of being able to get the right piece back. For me, that was a key move, because it allowed us to absorb any pitching injuries. When Kelvim Escobar and John Lackey went down, we had Garland.
Q: What is the process by which personnel moves are made? Explain the lines of communication between owner Arte Moreno and Manager Mike Scioscia, and how is it different from that of your predecessor, Bill Stoneman?
A: I'm probably more open than Bill might have been to the level of people involved. Bill kept things more internal, but he would always refer to Mike. If it was a minor league move, he'd ask my opinion. I'm probably more open to our scouts, not that Bill didn't take what our scouts said into consideration, but I probably speak to them a little more. Mike is definitely involved in any conversations involved with bringing in a player. I want to get his feedback. With Arte, if it involves significant dollars, I have to run it by him, tell him, this is what want to do, we've done our research, we think it will improve club. For the most part, nine times out of 10, he supports everything that we've done.
Q: There was a perception when you got the job last October that Scioscia and Moreno would be calling the shots. When will that perception change?
