Frank Coonelly

Chuck Greenberg, believed to be the only other candidate in the Pirates' search for a new president, today said he'd been told by chairman of the board Bob Nutting that he wouldn't get the job and that the Pirates "have selected Frank Coonelly."

Coonelly is Major League Baseball's chief labor counsel.

It's still unclear when the Pirates will make the official announcement about Coonelly.

Coonelly, 47, who began working for Major League Baseball in 1998, helps teams with salary arbitration cases and determines signing bonus slots for the amateur draft. He also is part of the negotiating team for collective bargaining agreements with the union and the umpires.

A story in USA Today in April ranked Coonelly 12th on a list of the 50 most influential people in baseball.

Coonelly would replace Kevin McClatchy, the Pirates' chief executive officer who officially announced July 6 he would step down from that position at the end of this season. McClatchy is expected to remain on the team's board of directors.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.