Somber day as Angels clear lockers

Club has many offseason decisions to deal with

Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com

ANAHEIM -- It was a tough day for Angels players on Tuesday as they cleaned out their lockers at Angel Stadium just two days after being eliminated by the Yankees in six games in the American League Championship Series.

Left-hander Joe Saunders called it the "toughest day of the year" but also said it was "bittersweet" because they at least swept the Red Sox to get past the American League Division Series for the first time since 2005.

Still, it was a difficult day knowing that they didn't reach their goal of winning the World Series.

"Every time is worse," Torii Hunter said of cleaning out his locker after the season. "When you're in the downfall of your career you really want to get to the World Series. I was close this time but it just didn't work out. It's difficult to clean out your locker because every piece you pick up reminds you of the season."

So while players were reminded of their season, Angels manager Mike Scioscia looked ahead to next year as the team faces several big question marks this offseason with six of the 25 players who formed the postseason roster eligible for free agency.

Designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero, right fielder Bobby Abreu, right-hander John Lackey, reliever Darren Oliver, third baseman Chone Figgins and utility man Robb Quinlan are eligible to file for free agency.

So unlike last year, when Mark Teixeira was the team's clear-cut No. 1 priority, this offseason the Angels have several priorities.

"We think we have four or five No.1 priorities out there," Scioscia said. "I think all those guys are a huge part of what we accomplished the last four or five seasons and a few of those guys go back to 2002."

Lackey and Figgins are the two who date back to 2002 when the team won its first and only World Series title, and figure to be top priorities heading into 2010.