MLB denies report that Pete Rose will be reinstated in 2004

NEW YORK (Ticker) - Major League Baseball issued a statement Tuesday, denying a Baseball Prospectus report that Pete Rose will be reinstated in 2004.

Citing "several sources" in a story on its Web site, Baseball Prospectus reported that Rose will be allowed to return to baseball in 2004 with no admission of wrongdoing of his alleged betting on the sport.

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The sources told the Prospectus that Rose signed an agreement after a series of preseason meetings with former teammate and Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, and at different times, MLB commissioner Bud Selig and CEO Bob Dupuy.

But it didn't take long for Major League Baseball to refute the report. In a statement from the commissioner's office, Dupuy called it "unsubstantiated and totally unfounded."

"The report is wholly inaccurate," he added.

MLB admits that Rose and Selig have met regarding his pending application for reinstatement, which originally was filed in 1997. But Selig has not made a decision.

"When a decision is made, it will be reported through the appropriate channels," Dupuy said. "Any unnamed source to the contrary or any report suggesting otherwise is both unfortunate and journalistically irresponsible."

In its report, the Prospectus acknowledged Major League Baseball's denial, but said it stands by the story.

Rose has been banned since 1989, when he reached an agreement with then-commissioner Bart Giamatti. The agreement did not include an admission that Rose bet on baseball and ended an investigation on baseball's all-time hits leader.