In his final days

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Frank Robinson was informed yesterday by Washington Nationals president Stan Kasten and general manager Jim Bowden that he will not be retained next season, and though an official announcement won't come for another few days, the manager's farewell after 51 years in the major leagues has begun.

During an afternoon press conference at RFK Stadium yesterday, Robinson all but revealed his fate. Without ever formally saying he is being let go after five seasons with the franchise, he strongly suggested that his managing career will end with Sunday's season finale.

"I'm at ease," he said, eyes welling.

Both Kasten and Bowden declined to comment on Robinson's status, but a source familiar with the situation confirmed the 71-year-old was informed his tenure with the club will end when his contract expires Oct. 31.

An announcement is likely to come sometime this weekend, and Robinson likely will be given some sort of farewell tribute at Sunday's game against the New York Mets.

"We agreed to make an announcement later on," the manager said before Washington's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, the start of which was delayed 4 hours, 27 minutes by rain. "Sometime in the very near future."

Rumors of Robinson's pending dismissal had been circulating for more than a month, and few expected the Nationals to bring him back for another season. Until yesterday, though, no front-office officials had spoken to Robinson about his future, and he expressed his frustration over that several times publicly in recent weeks.

The Hall of Famer met with Kasten for about 20 minutes and Bowden for about 15 minutes and said the conversations were "as positive as they could be." He did not meet with any members of the Lerner family, which assumed ownership of the club two months ago.

"I had my say," Robinson said. "We sat down, each one, and I had my discussions with them ... and said what I wanted to say about the situation here, and my situation."

Robinson, who in 1975 became the first black manager in major league history, wouldn't reveal whether he has been offered another position within the organization, but that has been a particularly sticky subject throughout this process. Robinson would like to remain with the franchise if he was given a position of some substantial authority, but few expect the club to make that kind of offer.