BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Pirates Dump LaValliere, Big Salary

The Pittsburgh Pirates continued to cut high-priced veterans from their roster, releasing catcher Mike LaValliere Sunday, despite owing him a guaranteed $4.05 million over the next two seasons.

The unexpected move hands the full-time starting job to Don Slaught, who has platooned the last three seasons, and makes light-hitting Tom Prince the backup.

Continuing a swift breakup of a title contender, the Pirates have lost via trades, free agency or release 12 of the 25 players on their National League playoff roster last season--including stars Barry Bonds and Doug Drabek.

If he isn’t claimed on waivers by Thursday, LaValliere can cut a deal with any team. His new team must pay only the major league minimum $109,000 salary, with the Pirates responsible for the rest.

The decision of General Manager Ted Simmons was an unpopular one in the Pirates’ clubhouse. Manager Jim Leyland called it “a tough day, a sad day” and said it was “an organizational decision.”

LaValliere, 32, and Slaught, 34, have formed one of the majors’ most effective catching platoons. LaValliere hit .300, .261, .316, .258, .298 and .256 in his six Pirates seasons and was the NL Gold Glove catcher in 1987. Slaught has a .315 average in his three Pirates seasons and his .345 average in 1992 was the highest in 31 years by a catcher with more than 200 at-bats.

The Padres, whose ownership held a fire sale of veteran players over the winter in apparent cost-cutting efforts that have alienated fan support in San Diego, face the first non sold-out home opener in six seasons Monday night.

A sellout is 56,000. Entering the Easter weekend, the Padres still had 15,000 tickets to sell.