The next step toward the Pirates' finishing a contract with top draft pick Pedro Alvarez, with the financial agreement having been struck last night, will be resolution of the grievance filed by the Major League Baseball Players Association against commissioner Bud Selig's office. Talks are underway to that effect this afternoon.

The next hearing before arbitrator Shyam Das is scheduled for tomorrow in New York, so there is some urgency.

There has been no date set yet for Alvarez to come to Pittsburgh for his physical.