Mariners rumors: Seattle in talks for Brennan Boesch

The Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners have held preliminary talks about a trade that involves sending corner outfielder Brennan Boesch to Seattle, reports Jon Morosi of FOX Sports:

No such move is close, the sources said, but Boesch remains a secondary possibility for the Mariners in the event that their top outfield targets — Josh Hamilton chief among them — end up elsewhere.

The Tigers could seek left-handed relief pitching in return for Boesch, and the Mariners are positioned to have three lefties in their bullpen: Oliver Perez, Lucas Luetge and former Tiger Charlie Furbush.

Following a breakout 2011 that earned Boesch the starting gig in right field for the Tigers, the 27-year-old had a rough go of it this past season. The lefty slugger hit just .240/.286/.372 with 12 home runs in 132 games, and found himself on the bench for much of the tail end of the season.

Boesch has been rumored to be on the trading block since the Tigers added veteran outfielder Torii Hunter on a two-year deal last month.

In addition to Hamilton and Boesch, the Mariners have been tied to several other available outfielders, including Cody Ross, Nick Swisher, and Michael Bourn.