BY THE NUMBERS: $119 million -- Angels' approximate payroll in 2008.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Everyone in America is feeling this economic situation. This economic environment is unlike anything we've seen, really, in the history of this sport. I think the economy is going to be a factor (in offseason decisions). ... That discretionary spending that a lot of people would enjoy is not there." -- Angels GM Tony Reagins, on how struggling national economy could affect baseball.
The Angels have given no indication that they are interested in re-signing right-hander Jon Garland this winter.
Garland, 29, is a free agent after going 14-8 with a 4.90 ERA in his first season with the Angels. Los Angeles GM Tony Reagins said he told Garland's agent, Craig Landis, "There are other things we are considering doing, and we're going to see how that plays out."
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.
