Downing Stays With Angels, Gets a Raise in Salary
Friday’s deadline for baseball’s “new-look” free agents passed quietly for the Angels, with designated hitter Brian Downing agreeing to stay with the club for an increase in pay.
The Angels agreed to increase Downing’s 1989 salary from $850,000 to a guaranteed $1.25 million and also gave Downing an option on 1990 at undisclosed terms, General Manager Mike Port said Friday night.
Downing, 38, was one of 13 players granted limited free agency by arbitrator George Nicolau’s Collusion II ruling, covering the off-season of 1986-87. By not signing with another club by Friday’s midnight, EST, deadline, Downing automatically remained the property of the Angels.
Downing had signed a 3-year contract after the 1986 season for a guaranteed $900,000 in both 1987 and ’88 and $850,000 in 1989 that was not guaranteed.
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