That would seem to put the Angels in the market for a starting pitcher this offseason, and they are expected to be among the suitors for left-hander CC Sabathia (particularly if they become convinced they will not be able to re-sign first baseman Mark Teixeira).
But Reagins would not say adding an established starting pitcher to replace Garland is a must this offseason.
"We like the young arms we have," Reagins said. "We think they've shown they're capable of pitching at the major league level in the future."
That means the Angels could go to spring training with four young right-handers vying for a spot in the rotation -- Dustin Moseley, Nick Adenhart, Anthony Ortega and Nick Green.
Adenhart, 22, has been the Angels' most prized pitching prospect the past two years, but he regressed badly in 2008. After an early-season promotion to the majors did not go well, he slipped into a season-long slump in Class AAA and finished with a 9-13 record and 5.76 ERA that had some questioning his standing in the Angels' system.
Ortega, also a right-hander, seemed to pass him on the depth chart by going 9-7 with a 3.73 ERA in Class AA, then 5-0 with a 2.52 ERA in six starts after being promoted to Class AAA.
Reagins said the team still has high hopes for Adenhart but he needs to "take ownership of his career."
"We think the ball is in his court," Reagins said. "He has the ability to pitch in the major leagues for a very long time, but he's going to have to put the pieces together.
"From the physical standpoint, he's fine. Now the mental side of the game becomes real important."
The Angels thought they had put together a team capable of winning the team's second championship. It didn't work out that way, and now they are faced with some difficult contract decisions. While the roster that won 100 games for the first time in franchise history might be worth keeping together for another run at the World Series, financial pressures make that all but impossible.
BIGGEST NEEDS: The addition of 1B Mark Teixeira in midseason seemed to fill the Angels' gaping need for a dangerous presence in the middle of their lineup to team with OF/DH Vladimir Guerrero. Now they have to decide if they are willing to pay what it will take to keep Teixeira. That is just the biggest of several offseason questions the front office will have to address. "I think it's pretty obvious it's going to be tough to keep every piece in that room here. That's the reality of it," manager Mike Scioscia said.
FREE AGENTS: RHP Francisco Rodriguez, 1B Mark Teixeira, RHP Jon Garland, OF Juan Rivera, LHP Darren Oliver, LF Garret Anderson.
