MILWAUKEE -- The Pedro Alvarez matter appeared to be speeding to a conclusion last night.

To start, testimony was postponed in the scheduled arbitration hearing for the Major League Baseball Players Association's grievance against commissioner Bud Selig's office yesterday morning in New York. An MLB official last night said that the next scheduled hearing, today, remained tentatively on the docket, but added there is "hope of having a settlement very soon." Lawyers were working toward that end into the night.

A settlement of the grievance would clear the way for the Pirates and Alvarez complete the four-year, $6,355,000 agreement they reached Sunday night. Alvarez first must pass his physical. There remains optimism on both sides that it could happen this week.