Angels lock in Mike Scioscia through at least 2014

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but General Manager Tony Reagins said that Scioscia, already the longest-tenured manager in the American League, "will be around for a long, long time."

Scioscia's current deal, which is believed to pay him about $1.75 million annually, ran through 2009 and included a club option for 2010. The 50-year-old former Dodgers catcher signed that contract more than a year before his previous deal expired.

"The job he's done in nine years here has been tremendous, not only at the major-league level but in his minor-league development philosophy," said Reagins, who began negotiations with Scioscia on the new deal last September.

"This is an acknowledgment of the work he's put forth. You look around the game, and there are not many ahead of him. We like stability, knowing that Mike is going to be here for a long time."

Scioscia, the longest-tenured and most successful manager in Angels history, has guided the team to an 803-655 record (a .551 winning percentage) since 2000 and led the Angels to their only World Series championship in 2002.

The Angels have won four of the last five American League West titles and reached the AL championship series in 2005, but they were eliminated by the Boston Red Sox in the division series in 2004, 2007 and 2008.

The team had a major league-best 100-62 record this last season but lost to Boston in a four-game division series that included Scioscia's most controversial -- and criticized -- call of the season, a suicide squeeze play in the ninth inning of Game 4.

With the score tied, 2-2, Erick Aybar failed to make contact on his bunt, Reggie Willits was tagged out in a rundown between third and home, and the Red Sox scored in the bottom of the ninth for a series-clinching 3-2 victory.

"The one thing you respect about Mike is, win or lose, he's going to be a stand-up guy," Reagins said. "He's going to do what got us to where we were able to get to.

"Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but the consistency and the commitment to do things the right way outweigh that glitch we had in the postseason."

Scioscia has been praised for getting the most out of his often-limited lineups, employing an aggressive running game that relies heavily on the stolen base and players going from first to third on singles.

He has also received high marks for his even-keeled nature and his handling of players and the clubhouse, addressing problems and issues before they fester or grow into full-blown turmoil.

"He has a strong knowledge of the game, he's a good communicator, he handles the media well, and he has the best interest of this organization at heart," Reagins said.

"He has the respect of the coaching staff, the players and the front office, and he's a pillar in the community. There aren't many negatives I can come up with."

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com