European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 5, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 b the stars and stripes sunday january 5, 1992pirates sign Lavalliere for 3 years new York apr Catcher Mike Lavalliere and Pittsburgh finally agreed Friday to their $6.3 million three year contract and Pitcher Don Robinson and California agreed to a $900,000, one year Deal. The Chicago White sox meanwhile prevented two players from filing for salary arbitration by exercising 1992 options on outfielder Lance Johnson $455,000 and Pitcher Donn pall $384,000. And infielder Luis Quinones released by Cincinnati after the season agreed to a minor league contract with Minnesota. The new York Yankees showed some interest in Danny Tartabull the top remaining free agent but it was hard to gauge How serious new York was in its Pursuit of the outfielder. The Yankees have been hampered by squabbling be baseball deals tween general manager Gene Michael and chief operating officer Leonard Kleinman leaving it unclear who has the authority to make a Deal. Tartabull who is wanted by California the Chicago White sox and Texas is set to meet monday with the rangers in Arlington. The Yankees who Haven to been Able to decide on any moves since the end of the season also vacillated Friday on a proposed Deal that would Send second baseman Steve sax to the White sox for Pitcher Melido Perez. A source said the White sox were prepared to make the Deal if new York agreed to pay part of the $10.9 million remaining on saxes four year contract that begins this season. But the source said new Yorkus interest in the Trade weakened Friday. The pirates who released outfielder Cecil Espy last month re signed him to a split contract. Espy who accepted an assignment to Buffalo of the american association for roster purposes gets $55,000 in the minors and $250,000 in the majors. He can earn an additional $90,000 in performance bonuses. Texas signed pitchers Jeff m. Robinson and Jeff Sellers to a minor league contracts with Oklahoma City of the american association. Sellers a 27-year-old right hander who has had Arm problems for three seasons was 0-1 with a 4.84 Era last season in six games for Columbus of the International league. Robinson 30, was 4-9 with s 5.18 Era for Baltimore in 1991 and was released nov. 18. Lavalliere who made $1,035,000 last season gets a $600,000 signing Bonus $1.65 million in 1992, $2.15 million in 1993 and $1.9 million in 1994. He can make an additional $120,000 a year in performance bonuses. California guaranteed just half of Don Robinsons base salary but the 34-year-old right hander can make an additional $900,000 in performance bonuses. Quinones 29, hit .222 in 97 games for the Cincinnati reds last season and was released nov. 20. In 439 major league games Over seven seasons with four teams he has hit .226 with 19 homers and 105 Bis. The twins invited him to Spring training As a non roster player. Fielder Bond players owners finalize cases for arbitration new York apr now that the for pfc agent season is winding Down baseball prepares for the second part of its financial Market salary arbitration season. Going into the weekend 157 players were eligible to file for arbitration from Jan. 4-14, and almost All of them will get sizable increases. Players and clubs will Exchange figures on Jan. 17, since almost All players file on the fast Day. Among the biggest names eligible to file Are Detroit first baseman Cecil fielder Pittsburgh outfielder Barry Bonds and Pitcher Doug Drabek Texas outfielder Ruben Sierra san Diego Catcher Benito Santiago Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin new York mets Pitcher David Cone Oakland first baseman Mark Mcgwire los Angeles outfielder Kal Daniels and Cincinnati Pitcher Greg Swindell. Fielder who hit 95 homers during his just completed $3 million two year contract May set an arbitration record for the highest salary Ever requested. The current record is held by Baltimore first baseman Glenn Davis who asked for $3.65 million last Winter. The orioles offered $2.9 million and the sides settled at $3,275,000, thus avoiding arbitration. Drabek has the largest salary Ever won in arbitration. Arbitrator Raymond Goetz gave him $3.35 million last Winter rather than Pittsburgh a offer of $2.3 million. Arbitrators must pick either the players or the clubs figure. In addition to those eligible to file eight former free agents accepted arbitration offers from their clubs St. Louis first baseman Pedro Guerrero Oakland Pitcher Ron Darling Atlanta reliever Alejandro Pena los Angeles reliever Jay Howell and second baseman Juan Samuel California shortstop Dick Schofield new York mets outfielder Daryl Boston and Kansas City outfielder Jim Eisenreich. Last year 157 players filed for arbitration and Only 17 players went through with hearings. Clubs won 11 h cases their first winning season since 1988, and increased their Overall Lead to 175-145 since the process began in 1974. Players however almost always Are big winners even when they lose. There were 153 players who got raises last Winter and three who received the same salaries. Only los Angeles dodgers third baseman Jeff Hamilton took a Cut in guaranteed  vow bowl protest Minneapolis apr the nil has invited representatives of the american Indian movement to meet about minority affairs but an aim Leader said Friday that a super bowl protest will continue As scheduled. Aim leaders said  rally outside the met Rodoc on super bowl sunday to protest the racist use of Indian mascots nicknames and symbols by the Washington redskins Kansas City chiefs and other professional sports teams. A the Only Way we will Stop protesting is if  change the names drop the mascots and logos and create some educational opportunities for Indian people a aim National director Clyde Bellecourt said today. A they also need to create some sensitivity and awareness about How these names affect indians particularly  David Cornwell the a Fly a assistant counsel and director of equal employment sent a letter on behalf of nil commissioner Paul Tagliabue to Bellecourt on thursday. The letter invited him to a meeting in Minneapolis next thursday to a discuss super bowl related minority  the letter said representatives of the nil and the super bowl task Force would be present an nil spokesman did not return a phone Call this morning about the letter or the meeting. Bellecourt said the Jan. 26 demonstration will be similar to aim rallies outside the metronome during the 1991 world series Between the Minnesota twins and the Atlanta braves. Aim was critical of the Atlanta nickname the fans use of Indian headdresses sacred symbols and chants and their use of the Tomahawk chop which was popularized by Florida state Seminole fans and also has been used by Kansas City chiefs fans. Aim leaders say the use of those symbols promotes stereotypes and is derogatory. Bellecourt said the demonstration will be held in conjunction with a National conference on racism in sports in Minneapolis an event aim also is coordinating. He said aim is asking for support from More than 20 National and local organizations including protesters perform a ceremonial song before unveiling plans for their new sports coalition. The National organization for women the National association for the advancement of coloured people the National Urban league the women a political caucus and the International Indian treaty Council a they keep trying to paint this As a local protest by the american Indian movement Here and we want to show that there is National and International support for what we re doing a Bellecourt said. A we want. A massive massive  Fresno player eulogized Fresno Calif. Apr Fresno state football coach Jim Sweeney  hold Back the tears Friday As he eulogized lineman Melvin Johnson slain Days before he was to play in an All Star bowl game. Police said they had made no arrests in thursdays shooting deaths of Johnson 21, and his Girlfriend Lisa Kelly 19. A i Don t feel like the University Ever had a greater tragedy than the loss of Melvin Johnson a Sweeney said Friday at a press conference. A the was like a son to All of us  Johnson a guard was All big West conference the past two seasons and was scheduled to play in the Hula bowl on Jan. 11. Sweeney expected Johnson to be selected next Spring in the nil draft. A Melvin had what it took to play pro football a Sweeney said. A memorial service will be scheduled when the team returns to school later this month from the Christmas Holiday break Sweeney added. Players who Are in town came to the coaches office Friday morning to share their grief. A players mainly came in the office and cried and left Quot Sweeney said. The coaches eyes welled with tears As he told How Young children liked to have the 6-foot-1, 310-Pound Johnson pick them up. A a he a going to be missed he was unique and he was funny a Sweeney said. A the was wide. We called him