PITTSBURGH (AP) Pirates owner Bob Nutting declined to listen to separate proposals to buy the team last year, including a surprise bid from Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux, officials with knowledge of the talks told The Associated Press.

The officials spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity because the talks were private.

Pittsburgh lawyer Chuck Greenberg, a successful minor league team owner whose holdings once included a Pirates farm club, made several inquiries about the Pirates before joining Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan in a successful bid to buy the Texas Rangers. That deal was completed last week. (MORE)