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NEW YORK - Major League Baseball denied an Internet report that it had reached an agreement with Pete Rose to allow the career hits leader to return to the sport next year.
Citing unidentified sources, Baseball Prospectus reported Tuesday that the agreement includes no admission of wrongdoing by Rose, who was banned from the game in August 1989 for gambling. The report said Rose could be employed by a team in 2004 and would be allowed to manage again in 2005.
According to the Web site, the agreement would secure a place on the Hall of Fame ballot for Rose as his eligibility window closes. Rose played his last season in 1986, and Hall of Fame eligibility rules require that a player appear within 20 years of the end of his playing career.
Bob DuPuy, baseball's president and chief operating officer, said commissioner Bud Selig has made no decision regarding Rose's application for reinstatement, first filed in 1997.
"The story that appeared on the Baseball Prospectus Web site today regarding the return of Pete Rose to baseball in 2004 and the alleged written agreement that had been reached by Rose and commissioner Selig is unsubstantiated and totally unfounded," DuPuy said.
Baseball Prospectus, which is best known for analysis, said it stood by its story.
In an interview with the Web site salon.com, Will Carroll, who co-authored the story with Derek Zumsteg, said he had a source "in the Reds organization, a source in the MLB offices and an independent outside baseball source. ...
"We're not a news-breaking organization normally," Carroll, who reports on injuries for baseballprospectus.com, told salon.com sports columnist King Kaufman. "There was a lot of debate (Sunday), saying, "We've got this information, what the heck do we do with it? How sure are we?' ... We went through about 50 different edits. It was just too good to pass up."
Jayson Stark at espn.com has reported that Reds owner Carl Lindner, who has pushed for Rose's reinstatement for some time, would like to hire Rose as manager.
PIAZZA CLOSE: Mike Piazza could return to the Mets today.
Piazza went 0-for-4 and caught all nine innings for Triple-A Norfolk in the fifth game of his rehabilitation assignment. The All-Star catcher, out since May 17 with a severely strained right groin, planned to join the Mets in New York and work out with the team before tonight's game against the Giants.
EXPOS MOVE: Though groups from Washington, Northern Virginia and Portland, Ore., continue to pursue the Expos in hopes of buying the team and relocating it, club president Tony Tavares said time constraints make it almost certain the team will play as an MLB-owned operation again in 2004.
"My personal opinion is, it's a little late in the game to conclude a total agreement for the sale of the team in time to get the 2004 schedule out," Tavares said.
MERCKER REJOINS BRAVES: Atlanta added a left-hander to its bullpen, acquiring former Brave Kent Mercker from the Reds for a player to be named. Mercker pitched for Atlanta from 1989-95.
CLINTON AT SHEA: President Bill Clinton attended the Giants-Mets game and visited both clubhouses. He also signed baseballs and shook hands with dozens of fans.
PHILLIES: Third baseman David Bell, out since July 11 with a back injury, is scheduled for an MRI exam today on his sore left hip.
TWINS: Right-hander Rick Reed was scratched from his scheduled start because of back spasms.
YANKEES: Right-hander Jon Lieber threw 54 pitches in Tampa during his third batting practice session in the past week. Lieber is recovering from elbow reconstructive surgery last summer.
DECIDE FOR YOURSELF: Though Pete Rose agreed to a lifetime ban, he has repeatedly denied that he bet on baseball. The evidence compiled by John Dowd, former special counsel to the commissioner, may contradict that claim. You can view the report at http://www.dowdreport.com