Stoneman to step down as Halos GM, move to consultant role

Bill Stoneman, the man who helped orchestrate the only World Series title in Los Angeles Angels history, is relinquishing the role, CBSSports.com's Scott Miller has learned.

Stoneman, 62, is planning to move to a consultant's position with the club. His four-year contract expired with the 2007 season but includes a mutual option allowing him to stay beyond '07 as either a GM or a consultant.

Angels spokesman Tim Mead would neither confirm nor deny the expected impending front-office changes.

Stoneman's replacement as GM was not immediately clear, but it is believed that the Angels are looking at Tony Reagins, currently their director of player development, to succeed Stoneman.

The Angels have called a news conference for Tuesday, and this will be the game's fourth significant GM change in the past month. Atlanta's John Schuerholz and Minnesota's Terry Ryan each have resigned within the past month, and St. Louis fired Walt Jocketty.

Under Stoneman, the Angels have won three AL West titles in the past four seasons and have reached the postseason in four of the past six years. Among the players acquired during his reign were free agent slugger Vladimir Guerrero and free agent pitcher Bartolo Colon.

While the Angels reached heights they had never experienced on the field under Stoneman, he was persistently criticized since that '02 World Series title for failing to land the one impact bat many felt the lineup was lacking.

The Angels took a hard run at Paul Konerko when he was a free agent two winters ago but failed to land him. After the 2006 season, owner Arte Moreno promised a "major" offseason move pertaining to the lineup, but many viewed the signing of center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. as more of a complimentary piece than an impact slugger.

Reagins, 40, has been in the Angels' organization for 17 seasons, including the past seven as director of player development. Before that, he was manager of baseball operations for four seasons. The Angels have developed a number impact players under Reagins' watch, including closer Francisco Rodriguez, pitcher John Lackey, first baseman Casey Kotchman, second baseman Howie Kendrick and infielder Erick Aybar.

To replace Reagins, the Angels are expected to promote Abe Flores to the role of director of player development. Flores, 43, has spent the past six seasons as the Angels' manager of baseball operations, handling administrative duties related to scouting and player development.