Tony Reagins

Last updated

Tony Reagins
Tony Reagins 2010 CROP.jpg
Reagins in 2010
Born (1967-03-11) March 11, 1967 (age 57)
Alma mater California State University, Fullerton
Occupation Major League Baseball executive
Years active1992–2011
Organization Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Tony Demetrius Reagins (born March 11, 1967) is an American former executive in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Reagins served as the general manager of the Angels from 2007 until his 2011 resignation. The fourth African American general manager in MLB history, [lower-alpha 1] he was promoted to GM of the franchise on October 16, 2007, having previously held the position of director of player development since 2002.

Contents

Education

Reagins pledged to the Theta Upsilon chapter of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity in 1988, while attending California State University, Fullerton. In 1991, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing from CSUF. He had previously received an associate degree in business administration from the College of the Desert.

Career

Reagins joined the Angels as an intern in the club's marketing department in 1991, and moved permanently to the team's baseball staff in 1998 as manager of baseball operations. He is a member of the Buck O'Neil Scout Association and an active supporter of Major League Baseball's Urban Youth Academy.

Reagins began his career as an intern in baseball operations in the Angels' organization 1992. He then held an internship in marketing/advertising sales in 1993 before being named marketing assistant in 1994. He moved to sponsorship services representative from 1996 until returning to baseball operations in April 1998. He served six seasons as the Angels' Director of Player Development, a position he held until becoming general manager of the Angels. As director of player development, Reagins was responsible for overseeing the Angel farm system, with seven affiliates that include a Dominican Summer League club and developmental academy in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. The Angels' farm system posted winning records in four of the six seasons (2003-05-06-07) and was named "Minor League Organization of the Year" in 2003 by The Sporting News. It produced players such as Howie Kendrick, Reggie Willits, Robb Quinlan, Kendry Morales, Erick Aybar, Jeff Mathis, Mike Napoli, Jered Weaver and Joe Saunders – all of whom made significant impacts on the 2007 American League West Division champion team. Minor League News named the Angels "2007 Farm System of the Year." Currently, Reagins maintains his competitive spirit by coaching his son's youth basketball team in Mamaroneck, New York. [1]

Tenure as general manager

As general manager of the Angels, Reagins was quick to make immediate changes to the Angels' roster. A little more than a month after taking over for Bill Stoneman as GM, Reagins traded Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera to the Chicago White Sox for starting pitcher Jon Garland. Two days later, Reagins signed free agent outfielder Torii Hunter to a 5-year, $90 million contract. At the 2008 trade deadline, Reagins dealt first baseman Casey Kotchman to the Atlanta Braves for Mark Teixeira. Reagins' tenure with the Angels has been in contrast to that of Stoneman, whose time as general manager involved relatively few major trades or other transactions.

During the 2009 season, Reagins and his front office selected Mike Trout with the 25th pick in that year's draft. [2] After the 2009 season, in which the Angels were the AL West Division Champions, the Angels gave Reagins a contract extension. [1] Although no details of the contract length was divulged, Reagins described it as 'long-term', adding "there's a comfort level from [owner] Arte Moreno and myself as far as the length of the contract goes. . . . I am honored and I appreciate deeply the confidence that Arte has shown in not only myself, but the job that we're doing as an organization." [3]

Conflict with Moreno and resignation

Before the 2011 season, Angels' owner Arte Moreno insisted on acquiring Vernon Wells from the Toronto Blue Jays, and reportedly told Reagins that he would be fired if he did not acquire Wells within 24 hours. [4] On September 30, 2011, Reagins resigned as GM. While many point to the Angels not making the playoffs in consecutive years since 2000–01 as the reason, others identified his trade of Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera for Wells being a significant factor. Many widely respected baseball analysts considered the Wells trade one of the worst trades in the modern era of Major League Baseball. [5]

Reagins remained with the organization as special assistant to team chairman Dennis Kuhl. [6]

Notes

  1. Reagins was preceded in this distinction by Bill Lucas of the Atlanta Braves, Bob Watson of the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, and Kenny Williams of the Chicago White Sox.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arte Moreno</span> American businessman (born 1946)

Arturo "Arte" Moreno is an American businessman. On May 15, 2003, he became the first Mexican-American to own a major sports team in the United States when he purchased the Anaheim Angels baseball team from the Walt Disney Company. In August 2022, he announced that he would explore a possible sale of the franchise, but in January 2023, he decided not to sell the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Scioscia</span> American baseball player and manager (born 1958)

Michael Lorri Scioscia, nicknamed "Sosh" and "El Jefe", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He managed the Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels from the 2000 season through the 2018 season, and was the longest-tenured manager in Major League Baseball and second-longest-tenured coach/manager in the "Big Four", behind only Gregg Popovich at the time of his retirement. As a player, Scioscia made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1980. He was selected to two All-Star Games and won two World Series over the course of his 13-year MLB career, which was spent entirely with the Dodgers; this made him the only person in MLB history to spend his entire playing career with one team and entire managing career with another team with 10+ years in both places. He was signed by the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers late in his career, but never appeared in a major league game for either team due to injury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Cashman</span> American baseball executive

Brian McGuire Cashman is an American baseball executive for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. He has served as the general manager and senior vice president of the Yankees since 1998. During Cashman's tenure as general manager, he inherited a core that was built by Stick Michael and Bob Watson and the Yankees have won six American League pennants and four World Series championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Dombrowski</span> American baseball executive

David Dombrowski is an American baseball executive who serves as the president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Dombrowski also previously served as the general manager of the Montreal Expos, the general manager and president of the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers, and president of baseball operations for the Boston Red Sox. He has helped build four different franchises into pennant-winning teams, and he has won the World Series twice — with the Marlins in 1997 and the Red Sox in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Stoneman</span> American baseball player and executive (born 1944)

William Hambly Stoneman III is an American former professional baseball player and executive who, during his eight-year (1967–1974) pitching career in Major League Baseball, threw two no-hitters; then, as general manager of the Anaheim Angels (1999–2007), presided over the franchise's first-ever World Series championship in 2002. He later served briefly as the Angels' interim general manager from July 1 to October 4 of 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torey Lovullo</span> American baseball player and manager

Salvatore Anthony "Torey" Lovullo is an American professional baseball manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB), appointed November 4, 2016.

Gerard Dipoto is an American baseball executive and former professional player. He is currently the president of baseball operations for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and previously worked in front office positions for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels, and Boston Red Sox. Dipoto played in MLB for the Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, and Colorado Rockies from 1993 through 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Bavasi</span>

William Joseph Bavasi is an American former Major League Baseball general manager. He currently works as director of the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, appointed in November 2014. Bavasi previously served as an assistant to the GM for the Cincinnati Reds, under Reds general manager Walt Jocketty. The son of longtime MLB executive Buzzie Bavasi and the brother of Peter Bavasi, also a former MLB executive, Bill also spent six full seasons (1994–99) as the general manager of the California/Anaheim Angels and a 4+12 season stint as GM of the Seattle Mariners (2003–08).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Mozeliak</span> American baseball executive

John Mozeliak is an American baseball executive who is the president of baseball operations of the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Never a professional baseball player, Mozeliak came to the Cardinals as Walt Jocketty's assistant in 1995 and became the organization's twelfth General Manager after the 2007 season.

The Los Angeles Angels are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The "Angels" name originates from the city that was their original home, Los Angeles, and was inspired by a minor league club of the same name. The Angels were established in 1961, and have played their home games at Angel Stadium since 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Rizzo (baseball)</span> American baseball front office executive (born 1960)

Michael Anthony Rizzo is an American baseball front office executive who is the president of baseball operations and general manager of the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB).

<i>Odd Man Out: A Year on the Mound with a Minor League Misfit</i> 2009 memoir by Matt McCarthy

Odd Man Out: A Year on the Mound with a Minor League Misfit (ISBN 978-0-670-02070-6) is a 2009 memoir by Matt McCarthy in which McCarthy recounts his experiences as a professional baseball player in the Anaheim Angels minor-league system during the 2002 season. Major themes include steroids, minor league living conditions, players' sexual hijinks, the crass attitudes held by players and coaches, and the clubhouse segregation between white players and "Dominicans".

The 2010 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim season is the franchise's 50th season and 45th in Anaheim. The Angels began this season as the three-time defending American League West champions. During the 2010 season, the Angels hosted the MLB All-Star Game at Angel Stadium for the third time in franchise history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Anthopoulos</span> Canadian professional baseball executive

Alex Anthopoulos is a Canadian professional baseball executive, currently working as the general manager and president of baseball operations for the Atlanta Braves. He was the senior vice president of baseball operations and general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2010 to 2015, for whom he began as a scouting coordinator in 2003. Prior to the Blue Jays, Anthopoulos got his start in professional baseball with the Montreal Expos organization in 2000. In 2015, he was named the Sporting News Executive of the Year after the Blue Jays advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1993, reaching the American League Championship Series (ALCS). However, his term with the Blue Jays ended on October 29, 2015, when he declined a five-year contract extension. He served for two years as vice president of player development for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Los Angeles Angels season</span> Major League Baseball season

The 2011 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim season was the franchise's 51st season and 46th in Anaheim. The Angels began the season following a disappointing 2010 campaign where they missed the postseason for the first time since 2006, after winning the American League West three times in a row from 2007 to 2009. During the 2011 season, the Angels celebrated the franchise's 50th anniversary and because it was the "golden Anniversary", a gold trim was added to the uniforms including the halo on both the cap and uniform. The date of the franchise's actual 50th anniversary is December 6, 2010. The season saw the debut of Mike Trout, who made his major league debut on July 8, 2011. Although he batted .220 during his brief time on the year, he would be back the following season as the regular fielder for the team.

The 2011 Toronto Blue Jays season was the 35th season of Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays franchise, and the 22nd full season of play at the Rogers Centre. It was also the first season with John Farrell as the team's manager. The Blue Jays had an up-and-down season, finishing with an 81–81 record, in fourth place in the American League East.

The 2012 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim season was the franchise's 52nd season and 47th in Anaheim. The Angels would miss the playoffs for the third straight season, finishing third in the American League West at 89–73.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Eppler</span> American baseball executive

Billy Eppler is an American baseball executive who most recently served as the general manager of the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). In February 2024, Eppler was placed on MLB's ineligible list for the 2024 season due to fabrication of player injuries in violation of league rules during his tenure with the Mets. He also served as the general manager of the Los Angeles Angels from 2015 to 2020. Before that, he worked as the director of professional scouting and assistant general manager for the New York Yankees.

The 2015 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim season was the franchise's 55th season and 50th in Anaheim. As of 2023, this remains the Angels last winning season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Los Angeles Angels season</span> Major League Baseball season

The 2022 Los Angeles Angels season was the 62nd season of the Los Angeles Angels franchise in the American League, the 57th in Anaheim, and their 57th season playing their home games at Angel Stadium. The Angels were managed by Joe Maddon in his third season as manager of the Angels. On June 7, 2022, Maddon was fired and Phil Nevin was named the interim manager for the remainder of the season after they had lost twelve games in a row, tying a record set by the 1988 team. Losses on the 7th and 8th resulted in a losing streak of fourteen in a row, setting a franchise record. After a brawl occurred during a game between the Seattle Mariners and Angels on June 26 that saw players and coaches receive suspensions, Bill Haselman and Ray Montgomery each served as interim managers to the interim manager when Nevin received a ten-game suspension. The Angels play as members of Major League Baseball's American League West division. On September 14, the Angels lost their 82nd game to clinch a losing season for the seventh straight season, tying the mark set by the 1971-1977 teams. With their loss to the Seattle Mariners on September 19, the Los Angeles Angels were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

References

  1. 1 2 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Press Release (November 6, 2009). "Angels' GM Tony Reagins given contract extension". mlb.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  2. "Morhardt, one of scouts involved in Trout pick, let go by Angels".
  3. Bolch, Ben (November 7, 2009). "Angels give GM Tony Reagins a long-term contract extension". Los Angeles Times.
  4. "Angels' tense atmosphere nearly included Pujols, Hunter fight in 2012 - CBSSports.com". www.cbssports.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013.
  5. "Tony Reagins resigns as Angels general manager". September 30, 2011.
  6. Saxon, Mark (September 30, 2011). "Angels GM Tony Reagins steps down". espn.com.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Los Angeles Angels General Manager
20072011
Succeeded by