A federal judge has denied Dave Parker’s...

A federal judge has denied Dave Parker’s request to drop the $5.3-million breach-of-contract suit filed against him by the Pittsburgh Pirates, his former team.

U.S. District Judge Glenn Mencer ruled that the Pirates’ civil suit against Parker went beyond major league baseball grievance procedures and was not subject to arbitration. Parker, who now plays for the Cincinnati Reds, contended the dispute belonged in arbitration, not the courts.

The Pirates filed suit in April on grounds that Parker violated his contract by using cocaine while he played for Pittsburgh from 1979 to 1982. They are seeking to void $5.3 million in deferred compensation from a five-year contract the outfielder signed in 1979.