Bob Nutting, the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, declined to listen to separate proposals to buy the team last year. The proposal included a surprise bid from Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner Mario Lemieux, officials with knowledge of the talks told The Associated Press.
On Saturday, the officials spoke of the condition of anonymity because the talks were private. Pittsburgh confirmed discussions with Lemieux and Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle took place, but said there was no talk about selling.
An unsolicited proposal for the Pirates four months ago—one that was substantial and serious, was reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Saturday, a person with knowledge of the offer told The Associated Press.
Previously, Nutting turned aside several sale overtures that were made by Pittsburgh lawyer Chuck Greenberg. Greenberg subsequently teamed with Nolan Ryan to purchase the Texas Rangers in a deal completed last week.
Several years ago, Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks was rebuffed in efforts to buy the team.
The Pirates aren’t for sale, and the discussions apparently went no further. Bob Nutting gave all the interested parties the same answer:
“No formal, substantive offer had been made at a meeting four months ago with Bob and Mario and Ron Burkle,” said Pirates president Frank Coonelly Saturday at the team’s fan festival. “But what I can confirm for you is, at that time, today, tomorrow, next week, the Pirates are not for sale. Bob Nutting is committed to making this organization a winner again.”
While the Pirates acknowledge they aren’t successful, but they are profitable,. Last year, they lost 99 games during a major league-record 17th consecutive losing season, then raised fans’ ire by trimming their payroll below that of the 1992 Pirates, the franchise’s last team to make the playoffs.
Despite being in a similar-sized market, the Pirates’ projected $35 million payroll is only about half of the totals for NL Central rivals Cincinnati and Milwaukee. The payroll is expected to be the lowest in the majors by at least $5 million.
Nutting will not consider a proposal from the popular Lemieux, a Pittsburgh sports icon who has revived the Penguins twice—once as a player and again as an owner. This decision is likely to generate further fan unhappiness.
During a fan festival question-and-answer session, the fan unrest was evident Saturday when Coonelly, general manager Neal Huntington and manager John Russell heard boos at times. It was especially evident when queried about the payroll. According to bystanders, most answers were met with only tepid applause,.
Pittsburgh has said the payroll won’t increase substantially until top prospects reach the majors and adding higher-salaried players might make the difference in winning a championship.
All of those interested in the Pirates have lengthy backgrounds in pro sports of some sort.
As a successful minor league owner, Greenberg teams included the Pirates’ Double-A affiliate in Altoona, Pa., that was partially owned by Lemieux until being sold two years ago. In 2007, Greenberg also was a finalist for the Pirates’ presidency before Coonelly was hired.
The Hall of Fame player, Lemieux, bought the Penguins in federal bankruptcy court in 1999—a year later, he came out of retirement became pro sports’ first owner-player—and has since seen them become one of the NHL’s most successful franchises.
A California billionaire investor and supermarket operator ,Burkle, joined Lemieux’s group in 1999 by making a $20 million investment, was interested previously in buying the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs.
“Mario and Ron are very smart business people. They’ve been very successful with the Penguins and have done a great job with them,” said Coonelly “What they see in the Pirates, I would think, is that they’re interested in purchasing a team much like the Penguins earlier this decade: A team on the rise. A team that has a plan. A team that has financial stability.”
With a more aggressive approach to player acquisition, Lemieux and Burkle, according to people with knowledge of their interest, believe the Pirates could substantially hike attendance—recently among the lowest in the majors.
Nutting’s family owns a Wheeling, W.Va.-based newspaper chain. They first became involved in the Pirates’ ownership group when California newspaper heir Kevin McClatchy bought the team in 1996. The Nuttings subsequently began to increase their shares. They achieved this by buying out partners of the once-large ownership group and now own a substantial portion of the shares.
Forbes, last year, estimated the Pirates’ worth at $288 million, less than that of any team except the Florida Marlins, who currently play in an NFL stadium.
Tom McMillan, vice president of the Penguins, declined Saturday to confirm Lemieux’s interest in the Pirates, saying, “The Penguins don’t discuss private business matters.”