TUCSON, Ariz. -- Even if Dusty Baker ends up managing the Chicago Cubs next season, his little bat-boy son won't be allowed in the Wrigley Field dugout with him.

Baseball's general managers will discuss an age requirement for bat boys on Tuesday in response to a near-accident involving 3-year-old Darren Baker during the World Series.

''We will issue a directive under the authority of the commissioner that enacts a minimum age,'' Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office, said Monday at the annual GM meetings.

Alderson said the age will be determined after talking with GMs about what requirements individual teams have, looking at state laws and insurance issues.

But he said it would be at least ''double digits,'' meaning Darren Baker won't be able to return as a bat boy until the 2009 season at the earliest.

''We don't want to just come up with an arbitrary number,'' Alderson said. ''I would like to do it in a way that is rational. I'm sure when the limit is imposed, some people will think that it's arbitrary. But we're going to have some limit.''

There is already a directive limiting teams to two bat boys, a rule the Giants violated during the postseason. Sons of Barry Bonds and Shawon Dunston were among those who also served as bat boys.

But it was Darren Baker who caused all the controversy when he was nearly hurt at home plate in Game 5 after he ran out to retrieve a bat while the ball was still in play.

''We really weren't aware of it until the postseason,'' Alderson said. ''Obviously it became a focal point after Game 5. ... We want to maintain the father-son relationship while at the same time preserving safety.''

Bonds, who kisses his 12-year-old son, Nikolai, when he crosses home plate after hitting a homer, said he agreed with the decision for an age requirement for safety reasons, but he didn't have an idea for what that age should be.

He said little Darren was the team's top bat boy this season despite being so young, and that Baker makes sure his bat boys are properly trained during spring training.

''We have (adult) ball people who make mistakes, run on the field and interfere,'' Bonds, who won his fifth NL MVP, said in a conference call from Japan, where he is on the major league all-star tour.

''Darren is a very bright 3-year-old. It sounds like I'm defending him, and I am. If we had to vote on who is the best bat boy, it's Darren. We're very aware of the kids out there. He made one mistake. ... Maybe 3 years old is too young, but in that situation Darren knows what he's doing. Everyone's entitled to one mistake.''

Arizona general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. agrees that safety needs to be paramount and supports an age requirement.

''We've had some close calls over the years,'' he said. ''No one wants to see that. It would be horrible.''

As the meetings began Monday, Baker interviewed with Cubs GM Jim Hendry and president Andy MacPhail about the team's manager job.

Baker, who led San Francisco to the NL pennant, became available when the Giants decided last week not to offer him a contract for 2003. Baker is the front-runner to replace Bruce Kimm, who was fired after the season.

The Mariners interviewed Jim Riggleman and Sam Perlozzo in Seattle on Monday about their managerial vacancy, and GM Pat Gillick will talk Tuesday with the other two finalists, Bob Melvin and Buddy Bell.

Player movement can begin Tuesday when free agents are allowed to negotiate money with all teams. The Phillies will make offers to Jim Thome, Tom Glavine and David Bell.

''We'll be aggressive with our offers and see if we can get it done sooner rather than later,'' general manager Ed Wade said. ''We're hopeful we can get this thing done. We'll see.''

The other top free agents include Greg Maddux, Cliff Floyd, Jeff Kent, Roger Clemens and Ivan Rodriguez.

Monday was the final day for players to file for free agency. Giants closer Robb Nen exercised his $8.6 million option with the team and Boston agreed to a $13.02 million, three-year contract with knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

Arizona declined a $2.75 million option on right-hander Mike Fetters and Los Angeles turned down a $1.2 million option on catcher Chad Kreuter. Kreuter gets a $300,000 buyout and Fetters gets $250,000.

In other news, owners will meet Nov. 19 and 20 in Dallas and are expected to decide then whether to allow the Montreal Expos to play 18-20 home games next season in Puerto Rico. By the time of the meetings, baseball officials hope to finalize a deal that would have Oakland and Seattle open next season in Japan on March 25 and 26.

Also Monday, GMs were briefed on the new collective bargaining agreement, umpires and a worldwide draft.

Alderson and management lawyer Frank Coonelly will be on a negotiating committee with two general managers and a scouting director that will meet with the union about implementing a worldwide draft. Alderson hopes that the two sides will be able to reach an agreement in the summer to put a new draft in place for 2004.

''We've come to an understanding on a lot of it. I don't think there are many major issues involved,'' Alderson said.

There was also a report on the improved performance of umpires, especially with regard to the strike zone.

That has been an ongoing dispute as the umpires' union has filed an unfair labor practice charge against owners for their use of a computer system to rate them.

''If you took all of the postseason games, there was only one where we were disappointed,'' Alderson said. ''That's not to say that all of the other games were perfect, but we were very pleased with how the games were handled.''