BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING REPORT / AROUND THE MAJORS : Clark Released by the Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have had enough of Jack Clark, even if they have to pay him $2.4 million this season.

Boston released Clark on Friday. Any team can sign him for the minimum $109,000 salary after he clears waivers on Wednesday.

“I’m not in a hurry. I don’t have to rush and make a quick decision,” Clark said in Ft. Myers, Fla. “This is kind of an opportunity to sit back and pick what might be the best place for me.”

Boston became Clark’s fifth team when he agreed to an $8.7-million, three-year contract as a free agent on Dec. 15, 1990. He hit .249 with 28 homers and 87 runs batted in in 1991 but slipped to .210 with five homers--both career lows--in 81 games last year when he was beset by physical and financial problems.

In an 18-year career with San Francisco, St. Louis, the New York Yankees, San Diego and Boston, Clark has 340 homers and a .267 average. The presence of Carlos Quintana and Mo Vaughn at first base and Ivan Calderon as designated hitter made Clark expendable.

“Every day I figured that whenever the phone rang I was either traded or I was released,” Clark said. “I’m not down about it. I’m not extremely pleased about it.”

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Moises Alou is still unhappy, but he’s reporting to spring training on time with the Montreal Expos.

After threatening to be a no-show for the start of camp because of a contract dispute, the outfielder flew to West Palm Beach, Fla., from the Dominican Republic on Friday to be ready for the club’s first full-squad workout today.

Alou has been seeking a contract for $250,000. The Expos’ offer is reportedly around $200,000.

Alou hit .282 last season with nine homers and 56 RBIs.

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Melido Perez will be the New York Yankees’ opening day starter when the club begins its season April 5 in Cleveland, Manager Buck Showalter said Friday.

Perez was 13-16 in 1992 and led the team in innings (247 2/3), strikeouts (218), and earned-run average (2.87).