NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Pirates opened Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings with two barely-a-blip moves, claiming infielder Josh Wilson and pitcher Ty Taubenheim off waivers, and it appears that nothing much bigger is imminent.

As for Jason Bay ...

Word surfaced in the morning of Cleveland's interest in Bay being rekindled after a trade proposal apparently fizzled in the days leading up to this event. And ESPN.com reported late in the afternoon that the teams were working on a deal in which the Pirates would give up Bay for starter Cliff Lee and backup catcher Kelly Shoppach.

Neither Pirates general manager Neal Huntington nor his Cleveland counterpart and former boss, Mark Shapiro, addressed Bay specifically in speaking to reporters. But each struck a similar chord in describing his team's trade status.

Asked if he felt close to a deal of any kind, Huntington replied, "If you'd hit me two weeks ago, I would've thought we had a good chance to make a trade before the meetings. If you hit me again in two weeks, I could tell you we've got a chance to make a trade the next day. The ebb and flow of trade talks is absolutely amazing. You might seem perfectly aligned, and another club comes in and shifts things."

Similarly, Shapiro said he had two recent near-deals quashed.

"I thought we had one done," he said. "But both those deals aren't even active."

He also called the Indians "a relatively inactive team right now."

It is possible that the Pirates wanted more out of the pitcher in the trade.

Shoppach, 27, appears to be a fine fit for their needs. He is a right-handed hitter with some pop -- .261 average, seven home runs in just 161 at-bats -- and he is trapped in Cleveland behind Victor Martinez. He could push Ronny Paulino for starting duty if acquired, and his rights would be retained for four years.

But Lee, 29, would add another left-hander to a rotation that already has three. He won 14, 18 and 14 games in 2004-06 but dipped to 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA last season and was demoted to Class AAA at one point. Moreover, he is guaranteed $10.5 million the next two seasons.

The Pirates are thought to be seeking a starting pitcher in this type of transaction who is young and has a high ceiling. Adam Miller, Cleveland's finest prospect, surely would fit that bill, but the Indians have made clear to all suitors that it would take a mint to pry him away. Bay might not be enough.

One industry source late last night confirmed a recent national report that the Chicago White Sox were "really" interested in Bay, but he added that talks did not go far. The White Sox yesterday addressed their need by acquiring Carlos Quentin from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Similarly, the source added, the New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers also made early inquiries about Bay.

"I really see this as Pittsburgh and Cleveland," he said. "Or nothing at all."

Only this much is certain: Bay is paying attention.

"I'm reading everything that's out there, and that's all I know," he said last night from his home in Washington state. "It's out of my control."

On another front, the Pirates are among six teams pursuing free-agent starter Brett Tomko, a 34-year-old right-hander who had a fallback 2007 -- 4-12 with a 5.55 ERA -- split between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Padres. Still, his career record is 93-92, and he might be had for a one-year contract and around $2 million.

Matt Clement also has been contacted by the Pirates, perhaps a sign that they do not intend to stick with their current starting five.

Huntington reiterated, though, that he cannot envision trading away any of his young starters -- Tom Gorzelanny, Ian Snell or Paul Maholm.

"It would have to be very compelling," Huntington said. "And I would throw Zach Duke in there, too. We're really encouraged by what he did late last season and what he can do."

Wilson, 26, was claimed from Tampa Bay. A 1999 graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School, he batted .251 with two home runs and 24 RBIs in 90 games for the Devil Rays last season after being claimed off waivers May 10 from Washington. The Pirates' previous management wanted to sign him last year, but the Nationals added him to their 40-man roster.

He is a career .281 hitter in the minors, .233 in the majors.

"That middle utility guy with the ability to play shortstop is hard to find," Huntington said. "We think he's a guy who has a chance to be solid to average defensively, and there's enough of a bat there that he can be a player for us off the bench in the short term."

That, Huntington added, would buy developing time for shortstop prospect Brian Bixler in Class AAA.

Huntington acknowledged he remains in discussions with another free-agent utility infielder. The Pirates are known to have contacted Chris Gomez, formerly of Cleveland.

Put together, it all provides yet another sign that Jose Castillo will be non-tendered by the Dec. 12 deadline.

Taubenheim, 25, was claimed from Toronto. He made one start with the Blue Jays in 2007 and allowed five runs in as many innings. He spent most of the season with Class AAA Syracuse, for whom he went 4-7 with a 6.37 ERA in 19 appearances, including 16 starts.

"Taubenheim gives us another option as a depth starter," Huntington said. "That puts him in that mix with John Van Benschoten, Bryan Bullington and Luis Munoz that, if we need a starter at the major-league level, he can come up. There is some belief, too, that his stuff might play out of the bullpen."

NOTES -- To open space on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated first baseman/outfielder Brad Eldred and reliever Brian Rogers for assignment. If they clear waivers over 10 days, the Pirates can outright them to Class AAA Indianapolis. Eldred had been out of options but, as Huntington confirmed, he and Van Benschoten each has another one after the Pirates won an appeal to MLB for an extra year because of injuries. ... Another player who has missed time to injury, starter Sean Burnett, remains out of options. ... Huntington acknowledged that the Pirates have interest in "one or two" players available in the Rule 5 draft and that he could be willing to clear roster space to make a selection. They pick second, behind Tampa Bay.