Bt The Associated Press

CINCINNATI - Pete Rose's $151,689 federal tax debt from 1998 has been paid off, allowing the government to lift a lien on his Los Angeles condominium.

The lien on Rose's $1 million condominium was lifted July 10, but it took several weeks for the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office to report the move.

David Stern, Rose's accountant, said earlier this year that the former Reds' star wasn't attempting to avoid taxes in his 1998 return but simply couldn't pay the entire amount owed when he filed his return.

California lifted a lien in 2000 that it filed against Rose for failing to pay $2,772 in 1997 state taxes. Rose also served a federal prison sentence in 1990 for failing to report income.

Rose, who was banned from baseball for gambling, has been negotiating with commissioner Bud Selig to get reinstated.

Patrick Courtney, a baseball spokesman, wouldn't say if the payment of Rose's overdue taxes will help his application.