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.

MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Friday's results INDIANAPOLIS (57-56) lost at Richmond, 9-2. RHP Marty McLeary (4-4, 4.12) allowed five runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. RHP Josh Sharpless (4.14) allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings. SS Brian Bixler (.287) went 1 for 3 with a double and walk. 1B Steve Pearce (.294) went 0 for 4. ALTOONA (57-53) lost to New Hampshire, 4-3, in 10 innings. RHP Dewon Brazelton (3-3, 3.51) allowed two runs, one earned, in seven innings. CF Andrew McCutchen (.249) went 0 for 3 with a walk. 3B Neil Walker (.282) went 0 for 5. LYNCHBURG (46-61) lost at Kinston, 7-2. RHP Jose Diaz (1-1, 4.50) allowed six runs in five innings. LF Jamie Romak (.236) hit his 12th home run and went 1 for 3. HICKORY (52-56) was rained out at Savannah. STATE COLLEGE (21-22) won at Auburn, 6-2. RHP Moises Robles (2-7, 3.81) pitched five scoreless innings and allowed one hit. LF Marcus Davis (.264) went 2 for 4 with a double and RBI. BRADENTON (14-22) lost to the Orioles, 4-3. RHP Sean Giblin (0-0, 5.73) allowed three runs in four innings. LHP Danny Moskos (0.00), the Pirates' first-round draft pick in June, pitched two scoreless innings of relief in his second professional appearance. He allowed three hits and struck out three. LF Ciro Rosero (.338) hit his second home run and went 2 for 4.

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.

The first step in the process will be getting Wilson -- and any other 40-man roster players in the transaction -- to clear waivers, as per regulations for trades made after July 31. As of last night, there was no indication that Wilson had been waived, but that process is kept ultra-secret by Major League Baseball.

Detroit's need for Wilson was heightened, to a degree, by the news yesterday that backup infielder Neifi Perez was suspended 80 games for a positive test for amphetamines. Wilson surely would play a more prominent role than Perez did, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland has said he wants to have three players capable of playing shortstop entering the playoffs, and he essentially is down to Carlos Guillen.

Armas stays in rotation

Manager Jim Tracy said the Pirates will keep Tony Armas in the rotation and start him Wednesday in Phoenix and bump Shane Youman to the bullpen.

"With the way Tony's pitched in the bullpen and in his one start, he deserves it," Tracy said.

Armas pitched 6¹/₃ solid innings Wednesday, limiting the St. Louis Cardinals to one run for his first victory.

The move is the latest in a series for the Pirates of going with the older, more experienced player, despite being far from contention.

Armas, 29, was general manager Dave Littlefield's lone offseason free-agent signing, with a one-year contract worth $3 million plus a 2008 option worth $5 million or a $500,000 buyout. Given Armas' performance this season, there is virtually no chance the option will be exercised and, thus, it is difficult to imagine he is part of the team's future.

Youman, 27, is not much younger but, because he is a rookie, the Pirates can retain his rights for the next six years.

Tracy said Youman will make a spot start in the Aug. 13 doubleheader with the San Francisco Giants.

Mackanin makes return

Pete Mackanin, the Pirates' interim manager for a month in 2005 after Lloyd McClendon was fired, is now in the same role for the Cincinnati Reds and apparently relishing it.

"There are only 30 of these jobs available. Right now, interim or not, I'm holding one of them," Mackanin said in his office yesterday. "I'm proud of that, especially with a great franchise like Cincinnati."

When Littlefield fired his coaching staff in 2005, he offered Mackanin a job managing Bradenton at the lowest level of the minors. Mackanin elected instead to join the Reds as an advance scout and, when Jerry Narron was fired July 2, he became interim manager.

Mackanin displayed that his fine sense of humor remained intact.

"I wish that interim managers could inherit teams that are 20 games over instead of 20 under," he said. "But I'll take it."

Buried treasure

Outfielder Xavier Nady did not start for a third consecutive game, but could tonight, Tracy said. Nady, bugged all year by a strained left hamstring, ran without difficulty before the game.

Cincinnati altered its rotation for the weekend: Bobby Livingston was bumped up to tonight, and Bronson Arroyo is "about 90 percent" sure to pitch tomorrow, Mackanin said.

The Pirates' pitchers scheduled to face Barry Bonds for the series next weekend in San Francisco: Matt Morris, Tom Gorzelanny and Paul Maholm.