No-Suit Clause Makes Parrish a Phillie

The Philadelphia Phillies and the Major League Players Assn. reached an agreement Thursday that will allow Lance Parrish, free-agent catcher, to join the team today in spring training.

Bill Giles, the club’s president, announced that Parrish had agreed to a one-year contract worth $800,000, plus $200,000 if he does not experience any problem from a chronic back ailment. The contract also includes financial incentives if Parrish makes the All-Star team or wins the National League’s Most Valuable Player award. Amounts of those incentives were not announced.

The Phillies and the association had disagreed over a clause that Giles insisted be included in the contract to prevent Parrish from filing suit against baseball for alleged collusion in the signing of major free agents.

Giles and Parrish’s agent, Tom Reich, said they had negotiated language that satisfied both sides in the dispute over the no-suit clause.

Giles said the agreement released the Phillies from any liability relating to the negotiations, and he said the association was satisfied that it was protected by the wording. Parrish reportedly retained the right to sue baseball officials or clubs other than the Phillies over alleged collusion, making this somewhat of a victory for the players’ association.

Parrish, who played for the Detroit Tigers last season, hit .257 with 22 homers and 62 runs batted in. His season ended July 26, when he suffered the back ailment.

He was one of eight major free agents who turned down offers from their former clubs last January. Aside from Parrish, only outfielder Andre Dawson, now with the Chicago Cubs, has found a new home.

Parrish came here Wednesday night expecting to attend a grievance session before an arbitrator to settle the disagreement over the no-suit clause between the Phillies and the union.

The grievance had been filed by the association three weeks ago, charging that the club had agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract, and then reneged by inserting the no-suit clause. The Phillies contended that there could be no contract without the clause.

But before arbitrator George Nicolau could start the grievance hearing at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, both sides asked for a delay. Then, 8 1/2 hours later, the agreement was announced.

“I’m very happy it’s over,” Parrish said. “I’m very happy to be a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. I feel that I can help this club win the division. I’ll miss my teammates at Detroit, but I had to do what was best for Lance Parrish.”

Parrish became a free agent after the 1986 season and asked the Tigers for a $1.8 million contract. Detroit counter-offered with $1.2 million. He and Detroit management were unable to reach an agreement and he broke off negotiations, declaring that he would never play for Detroit again. But Parrish and Reich found the free-agent market almost a dead end.

Reich finally approached the Phillies, who refused a long-term contract and said they would gamble on Parrish for one year at $1 million. Giles said at the time that the club could get insurance for only one season.

Parrish at first turned down the offer, but when he discovered there were no others, he came back and accepted. But the Phillies insisted on the no-suit clause, and efforts to resolve that issue have been going on for two months.

Parrish is considered one of baseball’s top defensive catchers and fills what is perceived to be the Phillies’ weakest link.

Last year, Philadelphia went with John Russell, who had caught only two major-league games. He had the lowest fielding percentage and poorest average in throwing out runners in the league. He also led the league with 17 passed balls.