Phil Regan Goes to Indians : Baseball: Dodger scout had been rumored as Lasorda’s successor.

The Dodgers were dealt a blow Tuesday, when highly regarded advance scout Phil Regan left the organization to become the pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians.

Regan, 56, who was rumored as a possible successor to Manager Tom Lasorda, said his decision to leave was not motivated by the team’s promotion of Bill Russell and Reggie Smith, which was announced Sunday.

“The Dodgers were great to me, but I didn’t want to get to a point where I couldn’t get back on the field,” Regan said from Caracas, Venezuela, where he is managing a winter league team.

“I want to get back in uniform, and there were never any promises from the Dodgers. Tommy is the manager, and he will probably be there as long as he wants to, and I couldn’t keep turning down opportunities to be on the field with no promises.”

Regan, a confidant of Dodger Executive Vice President Fred Claire, was approached before last season for a management position by the Florida Marlins. Regan did not interview for the job.

“At the time, I thought maybe there would be some openings or whatever, but it’s not going to be this year or next year and I’m not getting any younger,” said Regan, known as “the Vulture” during his days as a Dodger relief pitcher.

“When the Marlins approached me, I did and still do want to manage, but I wanted to stay with the Dodgers. It was not an easy decision to make, but I’ve been coming down here (Caracas) eight or nine years to learn how to manage, and I’m at a point now where I am ready. And nobody says you can’t go back.”

Regan, the pitching coach for the Seattle Mariners before joining the Dodgers seven years ago, was responsible for the development of former Dodger reliever John Wetteland.