Reagins abruptly quits as Angels general manager

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Tony Reagins abruptly resigned as the Los Angeles Angels' general manager on Friday after the big-budget club failed to make the playoffs for the second straight season.

Reagins took over for Bill Stoneman after the 2007 season, rising to the top executive job after starting with the organization as an intern in 1991. Although owner Arte Moreno said "a change was needed" in a statement released by the team, Reagins insisted he made the decision to quit after discussing his future with his family over the past month.

"I felt from my perspective that the club probably needed a different perspective and a fresh direction," Reagins said in a conference call. "I felt that Arte wants to win, and at the end of the day, if you perform, you get rewarded. If you don't perform, you have to be accountable. I felt accountable, because those are the expectations I put on myself. Arte wants a winning ballclub ... year in and year out."

The Angels won the AL West in Reagins' first two seasons, losing to Boston in the 2008 division series and the New York Yankees in the 2009 AL championship series. But Los Angeles has fallen behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West over the past two seasons despite a payroll well over $100 million, and Reagins' hit-and-miss record on personnel decisions apparently didn't please Moreno.

"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. Throughout his career, Tony has meant a great deal to this organization, and represented the Angels with the utmost loyalty and dedication. He will always remain part of the Angels family."

Reagins will remain with the Angels as a special assistant to chairman Dennis Kuhl, but won't have a role in picking his successor. Team President John Carpino said the Angels have no successor in mind, planning to look throughout baseball for candidates.

"We don't believe the organization is broken by any means," Carpino said, adding that longtime manager Mike Scioscia will be consulted during the process. "It's not like somebody has to come in here and rebuild this entire organization."

Los Angeles has reached six of the past 10 postseasons, starting with its only World Series championship in 2002, after making just three previous playoff appearances in the franchise's 51-season history. The Angels have had just two losing seasons in the past decade, going 80-82 in 2010 — but Moreno pays handsomely for his talent.