Union Plans Grievance to Aid Chacon

Shawn Chacon cleared waivers and was released yesterday by the Astros, five days after a physical altercation with GM Ed Wade in the clubhouse.

Michael Weiner, the general counsel of Major League Baseball's Players Association, said the union planned to file a grievance today. The union will claim the Astros improperly terminated the deal and that Chacon is owed the remaining $983,607 of his $2 million salary this year.

"As part of the collective bargaining agreement, that's their right," Wade said before the Astros opened a four-game series against the Dodgers. "I really don't have a reaction to it."

Wade, the Phillies' GM from 1998-2005, said he's never been through the grievance process before. Many of these types of cases settle before going through to a decision by arbitrator Shyam Das.

"It will certainly be a new experience for us," Wade said.

Chacon was 2-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 15 starts. He set a major league record for a starting pitcher with nine straight no-decisions to open the season.

· PIERRE TO DL: Dodgers OF Juan Pierre was placed on the 15-day disabled list after spraining a ligament in his left knee in Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Angels.

Pierre left in the sixth inning after hurting his knee sliding into second base on a successful steal. Angels SS Erick Aybar fell on Pierre's knee and Pierre writhed in pain for a few moments before limping off the field.

Pierre had an MRI exam in Los Angeles yesterday that revealed a sprained medial collateral ligament. The 30-year-old Pierre's DL stint is his first in nine seasons.

The Dodgers recalled Jason Repko from Class AAA Las Vegas to fill Pierre's roster spot. Repko joined the team in Houston, where the Dodgers were opening a four-game series against the Astros. Repko was hitting .277 with six homers, 29 RBI and 15 steals in 74 games with Las Vegas.

Pierre is hitting .277 with 35 steals, second in the NL. The Dodgers' regular leadoff man is baseball's active steals leader with 424.

-- From News Services