NEW YORK -- Hearings will start Tuesday on the players' union grievance to stop baseball owners from eliminating two teams before next season.

Lawyers for players and owners met with arbitrator Shyam Das on Wednesday, and the sides agreed to two days of hearings next week in Irving, Texas, where the executive board of the players' association is scheduled to hold its annual meeting. The hearing shifts to New York for four consecutive days of testimony starting Dec. 10.

Union lawyer Michael Weiner said the sides agreed to additional hearing dates in December if they are needed.

Das "presided over the discussion" Weiner said, and the lawyers "with his assistance set the schedule."

Players claim the Nov. 6 vote by owners to eliminate two teams violated their labor contract, which expired the following day but remains in effect. Owners have not picked the teams, but the Montreal Expos and the Minnesota Twins are the leading candidates.

Owners took no additional steps on contraction when they met Tuesday because a Minnesota judge issued a temporary injunction Nov. 16 that forces the Twins to play home games at the Metrodome next season. Baseball and the Twins have asked the Minnesota Supreme Court for an accelerated review, hoping the injunction will be lifted.

It is unclear how long the grievance hearings will go on or when Das will rule. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said the elimination of teams will happen, but acknowledged the timetable was out of his control.