PITTSBURGH — Officials with knowledge of the talks say the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates declined to listen to separate proposals to buy the team last year, including one from Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux.

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

The Pirates, owned by Bob Nutting, are perennially unsuccessful but profitable. The surprise offer from the Penguins came from Lemieux and co-owner Ron Burkle. Minor league team owner Chuck Greenberg also made a proposal, but he later joined Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan in a successful bid to buy the Texas Rangers.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported on the Lemieux proposal Saturday.