Report: Rose Owes Taxes

Pete Rose owes $151,690 in federal taxes from 1998, prompting the IRS to get a lien on his condominium in Los Angeles, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported today.

California also filed a lien because Rose owed $2,772 in state taxes from 1997, but the money was later paid, according to the paper.

Both liens were filed with the recorder’s office in Los Angeles County, where Rose owns a $1 million condominium.

Rose, trying to get a permanent baseball ban for gambling lifted, served a federal prison sentence in 1990 for failing to report income. His accountant said the current problems are different.

“We’re dealing with this issue,” accountant David Stern told the newspaper. “It is absolutely, 100% not related to the stuff that happened in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.”

Stern said Rose wasn’t attempting to avoid taxes but simply couldn’t pay the entire amount owed when he filed his 1998 tax return. Stern didn’t return phone calls early today.

Baseball’s hits king accepted a permanent ban for gambling in 1989. He applied for reinstatement, and has met with Commissioner Bud Selig and other baseball officials recently to discuss a settlement.

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Free agent pitcher Rich Rodriguez, a 12-year major league veteran who spent last year with Texas, agreed to a minor league contract with the Angels.

Infielders Adam Riggs and Oscar Salazar also agreed to minor league deals.

Rodriguez, a 39-year-old left-hander, went 3-2 with a 5.40 earned-run average in 36 games and 16 2/3 innings for the Rangers last year. He is a former El Monte Mountain View High player.

The Angels also extended a spring training invitation to outfielder Gary Johnson.

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Houston Astro owner Drayton McLane is considering a contract extension request by 14-year veteran Craig Biggio, who will be moved from second base to the outfield this season to make room for Jeff Kent.

Biggio’s contract expires at the end of this season. McLane doesn’t expect a decision until next week.

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Right-hander James Baldwin agreed to a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals and was invited to spring training as a non-roster player.

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The Boston Red Sox finalized their minor league contract with free-agent catcher/first baseman Dave Nilsson and settled their arbitration case with catcher Doug Mirabelli, agreeing to an $805,000, one-year deal.

Boston also agreed to a $300,000, one-year contract with right-hander Hector Almonte, who pitched the last two seasons with the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants of Japan’s Central League.

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Left-hander Steve Avery agreed to a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers and was invited to spring training.

Figure Skating

Irina Slutskaya fell on a triple salchow-triple loop but skated elegantly past the error to win her fifth European title at Malmoe, Sweden.

Teammate Elena Sokolova finished second and Julia Sebestyen of Hungary broke Russia’s four-year lock on a medal sweep in the women’s competition, winning the bronze with five triple jumps.

Miscellany

Miami Hurricane quarterback Ken Dorsey has decided not to play in the Hula Bowl.

Dorsey initially accepted an invitation to the game but changed his mind after playing consecutive weeks in the Fiesta Bowl and the East-West Shrine Classic, agent Leigh Steinberg said.

Aside from some aches, Dorsey’s health is fine, Steinberg said. Dorsey is projected to be a second-day pick in the NFL draft in April.

Light heavyweight Julio Gonzalez (31-1, 21 KOs) of Huntington Beach will take on Glencoffe Johnson (38-8, 27 KOs) of Miami in the scheduled 10-round boxing main event at the Commerce Crowne Plaza Hotel and Casino tonight.

Also on the card will be bantamweight Jose Aguiniga (17-0, 11 KOs) of Oxnard. He is scheduled to fight 10 rounds for the first time in his career.