In the previous decade, a culture of winning was established in Anaheim. The Angels qualified for the postseason six times in the last 11 years (which included a memorable World Series title run in 2002).
But after missing the playoffs in 2010 and 2011, the direction of the team began to come under question. Angels owner Arte Moreno took action and parted ways with the team’s longtime general manager Tony Reagins. In his place, Moreno hired ex-Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Jerry Dipoto on October 28, 2011.
Dipoto’s first and most important responsibility as new general manager was to bring the Angels franchise back to relevance.
And the new GM wasted little time doing so. His 2011 offseason signings of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson (on the same day) shocked the baseball world and immediately thrust the Angels into the limelight. Within months of being hired, Dipoto appeared to pull off the unthinkable by managing to land (what most considered to be) the best two free agents of the year.
However, results did not follow.
The Angels scuffled early in the 2012 season and missed the playoffs after finishing in third place in the highly competitive A.L. West.
Coming off a season that was classified by many as a complete failure, Dipoto put his thinking cap on and went back to work. In the offseason, he declined expensive options for Ervin Santana, Dan Haren and Torii Hunter.
As a result, the Angels’ coffers were full enough to make another big splash in free agency.
In December of 2012, the team signed perennial MVP-candidate Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125 million contract.
With a formidable batting lineup that featured Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton, the team appeared to join a short list of World Series contenders.
However, the team’s start to the 2013 season has been less than stellar.
The Angels currently have a 4-9 record and find themselves tied for last place in the A.L. West with the lowly Houston Astros (who have a 2013 payroll that is $106 million lower than the Angels’). They are already 5.5 games behind the division-leading Oakland Athletics.
Missing the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season could possibly lead to the end of the Scioscia/Dipoto era in Anaheim.
The following slideshow reveals three moves that Angel’s general manager Jerry Dipoto should consider in an effort to right the sinking ship.
*All statistics are courtesy of baseball-reference.com