BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Claire Builds With Fonville

Fred Claire, executive vice president, insists there’s no reason to panic. There’s no reason to believe the Dodgers can’t win the division title, Claire said, and still build for the future.

So instead of making another trade Wednesday, the Dodgers claimed infielder Chad Fonville on waivers from the Montreal Expos. Fonville, 24, never had played higher than Class A before this year, but because he’s a Rule 5 player, they’re required to keep him on the major league team all season.

This is the first Rule 5 player the Dodgers have carried on their roster, Claire said, since Teddy Martinez in 1977.

The Dodgers optioned infielder Garey Ingram to triple-A Albuquerque to not only make room for Fonville, but to prepare him for the possibility of being the everyday second baseman in 1996. Second baseman Delino DeShields is a free agent after this season, and with his struggles this season, the Dodgers are uncertain whether they’ll bring him back.

Fonville, a 5-foot-6 switch-hitter, batted .298 and stole 110 bases in three minor league seasons.

The Dodgers made room for Fonville on the 40-man roster by designating infielder Eddie Pye for assignment. Outfielder Reggie Williams cleared waivers and was assigned to triple-A Albuquerque.

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Catcher Mike Piazza is scheduled to participate in a full-scale batting practice today for the first time since he suffered a torn thumb ligament May 10 and hopes to return to the lineup within 10 days.

“It still feels a little uncomfortable,” Piazza said, “but [today] we’re going to be turning up the volume, and we’ll see what happens after that.”

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Manager Tom Lasorda telephoned Texas Ranger pitcher Kevin Gross on Wednesday, trying to cheer him up after hearing the news he’s talking about retiring. Gross, who received a two-year, $6-million contract this winter after leaving the Dodgers, is 1-4 this season with a 10.80 earned-run average.

“I’ve got to pump him up,” Lasorda said.