DETROIT -- The long-lingering possibility of a match between the Red Sox and Tigers on two extra players still appears to have life. A potential swap could send shortstop Julio Lugo to Detroit in exchange for one of the Tigers' back-end starters, reportedly either Dontrelle Willis or Nate Robertson.

The Boston Globe reported that the Tigers are contemplating the possible trade, with financial issues needing to be answered.

Team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski indicated Monday morning that no trade was imminent, as did two baseball sources Sunday evening, though another indicated that talks were progressing.

The potential Lugo deal has been floating around for a while, with a positional fit. Shortstop is one of three priority needs for the Tigers, while the emergence of Jed Lowrie in Boston during the season left Lugo's future role uncertain.

From a contractual standpoint, the salaries match up. Lugo, Willis and Robertson all have two more guaranteed seasons on their respective contracts -- Willis at $22 million over the next two years, Robertson at $17 million and Lugo at $18 million. Lugo has a $9 million option for 2011 that could automatically vest based on plate appearances, but he's unlikely to reach that after missing the second half of this season with a torn left quadriceps.

A short-term solution is key for the Tigers, who want to have the shortstop job ready for prospects Cale Iorg and/or Danny Worth in 2010.

Of greater concern to the Tigers might be Lugo's defense, which has statistically declined in each of his two seasons in Boston. Lugo, who turned 33 years old on Sunday, had a Range Factor in 81 games this year that ranked below that of Edgar Renteria, whom the Tigers acquired last winter but whose drop in range caught Detroit by surprise. Lugo and Renteria are the same age.

At this point, the Tigers appear to be weighing their options at short. Dombrowski noted Friday that he's had an uptick in calls from other clubs. The Tigers have also shown interest in San Diego's Khalil Greene, and it remains to be seen if the Padres feel any pressure to deal him and his $6.5 million salary for 2009 now that talks to trade Jake Peavy have slowed.