Angels' bullpen: What do they have to work with?

Shortly after he became the Angels' new general manager in November, Jerry Dipoto outlined his agenda for upgrading the team this off-season. Improving the "offensive functionality" of the lineup was on the list and so was adding depth to the starting rotation.

And so was addressing issues in the bullpen – not surprising, considering the 25 blown saves the Angels relief corps was responsible for in 2011 (tied for third in the majors and the most in the American League).

Dipoto upgraded the offense in a big way with the signing of Albert Pujols (and in a smaller way with the trade for Chris Iannetta) and added depth to the starting rotation with the signing of C.J. Wilson.

Having made such big commitments in those two areas, though, he went small in the bullpen. With one week to go before pitchers and catchers report for spring training, veteran setup man LaTroy Hawkins (signed to a one-year contract) is the only addition to the relief mix. By January, Dipoto had changed his tune and was talking up the in-house options.

"With the guys we have coming back – (Jordan) Walden and (Scott) Downs and Hawkins and Rich Thompson and (Hisanori) Takahashi, (Bobby) Cassevah) – and adding guys like Michael Kohn and Kevin Jepsen into the mix, the comfort level right now is pretty high," Dipoto said just over a month ago.

Adding Pujols and Wilson might wind up being the best things Dipoto could have done for the Angels' bullpen. An upgraded offense will widen the tiny tightrope all Angels pitchers walked last year with the lineup producing so little. And adding Wilson to a rotation that threw more innings than all but two teams in 2011 (the Phillies and Rays) further lightens the load on the bullpen.

But that bullpen still figures to get a lot of scrutiny in the midst of the heightened expectations for the Angels this season. Click through the photos for a look at the pieces Angels manager Mike Scioscia will sift through to assemble his 2012 bullpen.

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• Starting nine: Here's what the Angels' 2012 lineup might look like