Gossage May Get Hearing With Arbitrator Monday

Goose Gossage’s grievance against the San Diego Padres likely will be heard by an arbitrator Monday, according to Don Fehr of the Major League Players Assn.

And the arbitrator will be George Nicolau, a New York University law school professor. Nicolau, who has settled disputes for the National Basketball Assn., was named Monday to replace Tom Roberts as baseball’s official arbitrator, and this will be his first case.

The Padres suspended Gossage, a relief pitcher, on Aug. 29 for “repeated public attacks” against the front office. Nicolau will be briefed on the grievance Thursday, but the hearing probably won’t begin until four days later.

Arbitration could be avoided altogether if the Major League Players Assn. and Player Relations Committee can settle the dipute themselves. A meeting between the two is planned for today, but Fehr said he isn’t optimistic.