DETROIT -- The Tigers and Pirates rekindled discussions on a possible trade to send Jack Wilson to Detroit, reigniting interest that has been long chronicled but never consummated.

At this point, though, they still do not have a trade, and there are mixed signals whether they have a good shot at one.

The Newark Star-Ledger, citing a source familiar with the deal, reported Thursday afternoon that the two clubs agreed on a Wilson trade, a report that Tigers president/general manager Dave Dombrowski and Pirates president Frank Coonelly both quickly denied.

"It is not accurate," Dombrowski said. "I can 100 percent tell you that."

Three industry sources indicated Thursday that no deal is close. One estimated the chances at any deal at just 10 percent. Still, another source indicated discussions are ongoing, and there is mutual interest in a trade.

The Dodgers have also been reported to have serious interest in Wilson, and the expectation is that it's a matter of when and where Wilson is traded, not if. It's possible that interest on the Tigers' part would allow Pittsburgh to create some competition for Los Angeles.

Wilson's agent, Page Odle, said Thursday he has not been contacted about any trade and hasn't had any discussions about Detroit. If the Pirates do find a match with the Tigers, they'll have to talk to Odle first. Detroit is one of six teams listed in a limited no-trade clause negotiated into the three-year, $20.2 million contract extension Wilson signed in 2006.

That approval doesn't appear to be a major obstacle. Wilson told MLB.com on Thursday that he would consider revisiting his no-trade list.

"I'm open to anything," Wilson said. "If the Pirates are in the position where they are ready to trade me, then it means that they have already made plans to move on without me.

"It's a family decision for me. I have to talk with my family before any decision would be made, but I'm open to pretty much anything."

A bigger problem, however, could be the money. Though Wilson's contract fits the profile of the short-term solution Detroit wants, his $7.25 million salary for next season is a difficult fit for a team looking to keep its payroll around the same level as last year despite a half-dozen arbitration cases looming. Wilson has a $8.25 million club option for 2010 with a $600,000 buyout.

The possibility of Wilson in a Tigers uniform began around the July 2007 Trade Deadline, when Detroit was looking for a full-time shortstop to allow Carlos Guillen to shift over to first base. Guillen has shifted to two more positions since then, but the Tigers have struggled to find a replacement at short.

Detroit dealt for Edgar Renteria the day after the 2007 World Series, hoping to fill the void with the veteran National Leaguer. However, while Renteria recovered from a slow start to hit respectably, his drop in defensive range became a source of concern in Detroit. The Tigers didn't exercise his contract option at season's end, making him a free agent, and they chose not to offer him arbitration on Monday. The Giants announced a two-year contract with Renteria on Thursday.

Injuries limited Wilson to 87 games this year, during which he batted .272 with one home run and 22 RBIs. His 4.91 range factor at shortstop, however, was the highest of his eight-year Major League career.

The Tigers' pursuit of Wilson rekindled only recently. That's likely a result of both the Pirates' willingness to deal him and the Tigers' struggles to find other options at short. They've been linked in interest this offseason to Boston's Julio Lugo and San Diego's Khalil Greene. The Padres were reportedly close to dealing Greene to the Cardinals on Thursday.

The Associated Press reported on Thursday that the Tigers have shown recent interest in free agent Adam Everett, another sure-handed shortstop, who was limited by injuries last year with the Twins.

The Pirates are believed to be seeking a young shortstop if they do trade Wilson. The problem with that on Detroit's side is that the Tigers want their young shortstop prospects to eventually take over the starting job, making whomever they acquire a one- or two-year placeholder.