The Boston Red Sox, first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, the MLBPA and the Commissioner's Office have agreed to settle the dispute regarding the ownership of the baseball used to record the final out of the 2004 World Series through arbitration. The Red Sox have dropped their lawsuit in a Massachusetts state court, and Mientkiewicz agreed to waive the entitlement to return the ball by January 1, 2006 until the Major League Baseball's Arbitration Panel can come to a resolution. No date for the arbitration hearing has been set. "The Players Association strongly believed that this dispute belonged in the Grievance Procedure. It appreciate's Doug's help in protecting the integrity and reach of the Basic Agreement, to the benefit of all Players," said Michael Weiner, the Association's general counsel.