Jack Wilson Might Be Headed to Detroit

It's starting to look like this "Jack Wilson to the Tigers" trade might actually happen. From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Shortstop Jack Wilson has informed the Pirates he will accept a trade to any of the six teams named in his limited no-trade clause, including the Detroit Tigers.

The Pirates and Tigers continue to discuss a multiplayer deal that would send Wilson to Detroit, and Wilson wanted it known to all concerned that he would do nothing to disrupt it. He also would be open to trades to other teams.

Because we're past the July 31st non-waiver deadline, Wilson must first pass through waivers for any trade to happen, but given his contract that shouldn't be a problem -- he's still owed the balance of a $5.25 million salary this year and is set to make nearly $14 million combined in 2008 and 2009. Given his poor offensive production (only once in his career has he had an OPS above .700), there aren't many teams who'd be willing to risk taking on that kind of financial burden to block this trade.

Who can Pittsburgh get in return? It's possible the Tigers might try to pass one of their big-league players through waivers (Craig Monroe, perhaps?), but otherwise it will likely be a package of prospects, since players not yet included on the 40-man roster are not subject to any kind of waiver restrictions.

Why would the Tigers be willing to take on Wilson's salary? For one, they just found out Neifi Perez will be suspended the rest of the year, so their bench could use a solid defensive middle infielder. Plus, given the length of Wilson's contract, if the Tigers picked him up it'd give them the option of moving Carlos Guillen to first base at some point in the future.