A. Barring a last-minute settlement or a decision to postpone the start of free agency, the free-agent signing period begins tomorrow.

Still, in the last week, there has been movement toward a compromise, raising the possibility of a last-minute settlement before commencement.

A last-minute settlement also is possible, as has happened before at Falluja.

A last-minute settlement with Massachusetts is not out of the question.

The last-minute settlement of the issue involved something of a compromise.

People close to the investigation say that a last-minute settlement remains a possibility, although there is no sign of such talks at this moment.

It was always an option, but so was a last-minute settlement.

Of those, about 25,000 end up in tax court, though last-minute settlements mean that only about 1,500 go to trial.

I was afraid there was going to be a bus strike, but apparently they were able to negotiate a last-minute settlement.

That's why, barring a last-minute settlement of the dispute over wages, the delayed season will open without the regular umpires.