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Angels not planning major changes following postseason exit

Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports

Despite being swept in the ALDS at the hands of the wild-card winning Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto isn't planning a major shakeup to his roster during the offseason. 

"I can't say enough about how impressive I think the Royals were these last three days, but it doesn't change our group," Dipoto told MLB.com. "We had a fantastic season, won 98 games. Our desire was to win a world championship, and obviously we fell short, but I still feel really confident in the foundation of the players that were here."

The Angels finished the regular season with the best record in the majors, despite losing key members of their rotation in Garrett Richards and Tyler Skaggs to season-ending injuries, challenging the depth of their pitching staff. Los Angeles persevered thanks to fantastic rookie seasons out of Matt Shoemaker and Cory Rasmus.

"We're not a team that can't sustain and can't balance what we're doing," Dipoto said. "We like the group of players we have; we feel like we're a well-put-together team. Again, we fell short. Next year, with the full contingent, believing that we will have Garrett Richards back and in large part have a big part of the foundation of this team. We feel we're tweaks and turns from being a very good team again. There's no reason that will change."

While core pieces that helped lead the Angels to a 98-win season struggled in the postseason -  Albert Pujols (2-for-12), Howie Kendrick (2-for-13), Mike Trout (1-for-12), Josh Hamilton (0-for-13), C.J. Wilson (0-1, 40.50 ERA) - the Angels' bench also failed to provide a spark. Gordon Beckham, Hank Conger, Collin Cowgill and Efren Navarro managed three at-bats during the ALDS, as manager Mike Scioscia was reluctant to use a thin bench to help spark the team's sputtering offense. 

"The bench part of our team - that ninth to 13th, even 15th player - is going to be a focus of our offseason," Dipoto said.

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