Downing to Talk to Rader Before Making a Decision

Brian Downing said Wednesday he will postpone filing for free agency until he speaks with Angel Manager Doug Rader, but added that if he hears “the same garbage” he heard from club executives, he will file before the Sunday deadline.

Downing, who hit .273 in his club-record 13th season after playing sparingly until July, was told last week that the Angels won’t go to arbitration with him. Although he called a return in 1991 “possible but remote,” he wants to be sure all possibilities have been exhausted before severing ties to a team with which he has set nine career offensive records.

Rader has been on a scouting trip in Latin America and is expected back at his Florida home this weekend. Downing plans to speak with him by phone Saturday.

“Through my years of seeing guys disappear, I’ve heard the theme, ‘If they’d just talked to (the manager), he wouldn’t have had to leave,’ ” said Downing, who hit .371 (49 for 132) from June 24 to Aug. 17, when he peaked at .303. “Before I run off and sign somewhere else, I want to talk to Doug so he doesn’t end up saying, ‘He should have talked to me.’

“I’m looked upon by them as a last resort, and that’s not right. It’s their loss. Somebody’s going to get a hell of a big league player. I know I’ve said I never could play for somebody else, but they dumped me. It hurts like heck. This is my home and always has been. I’m going to have to move away and leave my family behind. But I’ve always been a fighter. That’s what’s kept me in the big leagues 18 years.”

Downing, who earned $1.25 million last season, has been plagued by a muscle problem in his back the past three seasons and considered retirement when he was unable to find a remedy. But since beginning thrice-weekly treatment supervised by physical therapist Valerie Sinkus of Whittier, Downing said he is optimistic about regaining his form at 40.

“I always knew this was a business, but you never think it’s going to happen to you,” Downing said. “I have no second thoughts about anything that’s happened here. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to win somewhere else.”