FOX television reported today that Frank Coonelly, Major League Baseball's chief labor lawyer, will be the Pirates' new president.

Bob Nutting, the Pirates' chairman of the board, confirmed he'd talked with Coonelly.

"But it would be premature to make any kind of announcement,'' Nutting said. "It would be premature for me to say Frank is my choice. It would be unfair to the other candidates.''

It's believed, though, that there is -- or was -- only other candidate. That would be Chuck Greenberg, who owns the Pirates' State College and Altoona farm clubs.

"Frank is an extremely bright person and a capable individual,'' Nutting said. "If you talk to people who run clubs, I think they'd say, 'You're lucky to get him' -- if we're able to do so. Officially, it's not a done deal.''