DODGERS UPDATE: AGENT DROPS NEW BELTRE BOMBSHELL.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The Adrian Beltre chronicles took another strange turn as agent Scott Boras said the Dodgers altered the third baseman's documentation when he was signed in 1994.

Upon examining the club's personal file on Beltre, Boras said he found two birth certificates: one with a birth year of 1979, and one with ``1978'' typed over a whited-out area for the year of birth.

Boras forwarded the documents to the commissioner's office after the general manager's meetings in mid-November.

``In that file there's evidence he gave them his true birth certificate with his true age,'' Boras said. ``The only way the Dodgers could get the birth certificate was from Beltre. There is a copy of the birth certificate with white-out over 1979, and typed over it is 1978. Obviously, a Dodger official did the work.''

Boras claims the past Dodgers regime broke baseball rules by signing Beltre before his 16th birthday. He is asking the commissioner's office to grant Beltre free agency, paving the way for the 20-year-old to sign a contract that could be as rich as seven years, $50 million.

In past instances in which teams signed underage players, the commissioner's office stated that the responsibility of knowing a player's age doesn't fall on the player or the family, but rather on the club.

However, Major League Baseball, which was notified of the situation in late October, is moving slowly. Three representatives from the commissioner's office are supposed to fly to the Dominican Republic today and interview Beltre's family Thursday.

It's uncommon for baseball to conduct such interviews, especially when there is ample documentation.

All Dodgers officials are referring questions to Dodgers general counsel Sam Fernandez, who said he couldn't comment on anything regarding the case.

``I can't comment on the investigation,'' Fernandez said, ``other than to say we've cooperating with it.''

Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of baseball operations for the Office of the Commissioner, did not return numerous phone calls.

Beltre's file also included more than a half-dozen official government documents, including work visas, that support the notion the Dodgers knew Beltre was underage when he was signed July 7, 1994, Boras said.

If Beltre isn't declared a free agent, a grievance is expected to be filed with the players union.

Beltre's birth date is listed as April 7, 1978 in Dodger publications, but Boras said Beltre's birth date is actually April 7, 1979.

Though the prevailing thought throughout baseball is the Dodgers will lose Beltre, the length of time it's taken to review the case has frustrated both sides. The Dodgers don't know if they need to find a major-league third baseman to replace Beltre, and Beltre is left in limbo. Both sides are hoping for a ruling before the winter meetings begin next Friday in Anaheim.

As the Dodgers try to restructure their club into a contender next season, the last thing they needed was to worry about Beltre. He's considered one of the most talented young players in the game, and hit .275 with 15 homers, 67 RBI and 18 stolen bases in his first full season last year. He also made 29 errors, but many were due to inexperience.

The Dodgers remain on the outskirts of the Todd Zeile derby. If they lose Beltre, Zeile, a Van Nuys native, could become a highly sought free-agent prospect.

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PHOTO Adrian Beltre's agent says he found two birth certificates in the Dodgers' file.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer