NEW YORK -- Following a report that Adrian Beltre won't be set free, the agent for the Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman and the players' association prepared Friday for a possible grievance against owners.

	Beltre

The broadcast report said Thursday night that commissioner Bud Selig will rule Monday that any possible violation by the team occurred five years ago, beyond the sport's statue of limitations. The team will be also reportedly be fined.

Selig spokesman Rich Levin said no decision had been made, but several baseball officials, speaking on the condition they not be identified, speculated that information in the report may have been in the recommendation made to the commissioner by Sandy Alderson, his executive vice president of baseball operations. Alderson did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

Beltre's agent, Scott Boras, claims Beltre was 15 when the Dodgers signed his client, a year younger than baseball's rules permit. Boras said that if Beltre isn't set free, the union will immediately file a grievance and ask for an expedited hearing before Shyam Das, baseball's new arbitrator.

"We knew there were a number of procedural areas we had to go through before the grievance procedure," Boras said. "The review by the commissioner's office was only one of the steps."

Earlier this week, Alderson cited Major League Rule 22 as a factor to be considered. The rule states: "Any disputed monetary claim, claim for free agency or complaint which any party may desire to submit for consideration, action or decision by the commissioner must be presented within one year from the date the claim arose."

Boras says Beltre did not know until March 10 about baseball's prohibition against players under 16. Owners are expected to contend he knew earlier and to argue the arbitrator doesn't have jurisdiction because Beltre didn't initially sign a major league contract, only a minor league deal.

Beltre, 20, hit .275 with 15 homers, 67 RBIs and 18 steals this year in his first full season with the Dodgers. Earlier this year, Los Angeles lost two Cuban players because they signed before they were 16.

Infielder Juan Diaz and outfielder Josue Perez were declared free agents by Selig, and the team was fined $200,000. Perez later signed with Philadelphia for $850,000.

Officials on many teams say they are worried that if Beltre is set free, dozens of Latin players would claim they were underage when they signed and also seek free agency following good seasons.

Chicago White Sox general manager Ron Schueler said that if Beltre is made a free agent, he wouldn't attempt to sign him.

"That's not fair," Schueler was quoted as saying in Wednesday's editions of the Chicago Tribune. "The kid knew it. ... I'm not going to help that process."

Boras claimed Schueler's statements violated the anti-collusion provisions in baseball's collective bargaining agreement.

"If he is a free agent, then he is a free agent and ought to be treated as such," union head Donald Fehr said Friday.