Enquirer wire services

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves haven't given up on the idea of re-signing both Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, and they aren't planning a major cut in payroll to deal with huge financial losses.

Still, Braves president Stan Kasten conceded Thursday that player salaries must be reduced after the team lost more than $20 million for the second year in a row.

"Our revenues have been out of balance with our expenses," Kasten said during a news conference at Turner Field. "It's important that we get that more in balance."

The payroll reduction won't happen all at once, but it might be difficult to afford two pitchers with six Cy Young awards between them.

"Yes, we can re-sign both of them," Atlanta general manager John Schuerholz said. "But Tommy and Greg are very accomplished pitchers. That's going to be a very complex issue."

The Braves won their 11th consecutive division title but followed with their usual disappointment in the postseason. The San Francisco Giants defeated Atlanta in a five-game division series.

PIRATES: Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon will return in 2003 but will not be offered a contract extension, and all but two of his coaches were fired or reassigned.

The Pirates are 134-189 in McClendon's two seasons but lost 11 fewer games than in 2001 and improved from last place to fourth place in the National League Central.

After McClendon and general manager Dave Littlefield met in Bradenton, Fla., during the team's annual organizational meetings, first base coach Tommy Sandt and catching instructor Russ Nixon were fired.

Hitting coach Dave Clark, one of McClendon's closest friends; third base coach Trent Jewett; and field coordinator Jeff Banister were offered other jobs in the organization.

Bench coach Bill Virdon stepped down at the end of the season to take a part-time job with the team.

The only coaches returning are pitching coach Spin Williams and bullpen coach Bruce Tanner.

REDS: The team announced coaching staffs for three of its six minor-league affiliates.

Double-A Chattanooga manager Phillip Wellman and hitting coach Alonzo Powell will return for another season. Bill Moloney, formerly of Single-A Stockton, will take over as pitching coach.

The Reds' new Single-A affiliate, Potomac, will retain the services of manager Jayhawk Owens and hitting coach Jamie Dismuke. Larry Pierson was hired as the new pitching coach.

At Single-A Dayton, manager Donnie Scott welcomes new hitting coach Billy White and new pitching coach Jamie Garcia.

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