As the story goes, GM Jack Zduriencik was close to landing Edwin Jackson last offseason in a three team deal with with Tampa Bay Rays and Detroit Tigers.  The deal fell through and Jackson had a breakout season for the Tigers.  J.J. Putz, who would have been sent to the Tigers in this deal, ended up being used to bring in Franklin Gutierrez, silencing the coulda-woulda-shouldas.

Apparently, Zduriencik wasn’t just going for a buy low.  He’s still bugging the Tigers for Jackson, according to FOX’s Ken Rosenthal and John Paul Morosi:

Count the Mariners among the teams interested in Tigers right-hander Edwin Jackson.

The teams have spoken about Jackson and exchanged names, but the talks “are not all that serious,” according to one source with knowledge of the discussions.

Jackson, 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA last season, would be a strong complement to ace right-hander Felix Hernandez in the Mariners’ rotation.

The Tigers, sources say, are seeking minimum-salary pitching for Jackson, whose salary will rise from $2.2 million in arbitration.

Mariners right-handers Brandon Morrow and Shawn Kelley both fit that description, and are the types of hard throwers favored by Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski.

Jackson’s price tag is obviously much higher now than it was last season, but he can only command so much as he’s only under team control for two more seasons.  And while he posted a shiny 3.62 ERA last season, his season line was aided by a luck driven first half.  He’s no ace, but he would give Seattle more middle of the rotation depth to work with.

What are you willing to give up for Jackson?  To be honest, I’m not sure I’d deal Morrow for him.  Morrow is basically what Jackson was earlier in his career but with the ability to miss twice as many bats (edit: I must have been looking at the wrong columns. Similar swinging strike rates, but edge to Morrow).  I like Jackson, but I’m not sure he’s that much better than Morrow at this point.  Sean White and, as mentioned, Shawn Kelly would interest Detroit, but I doubt that would be enough to get it done.

I could definitely get behind moving Morrow if Detroit was sending more than just Jackson.  The FOX duo continues:

The Mariners, one of the few clubs seemingly in position to add payroll, also like Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson.

However, they prefer Franklin Gutierrez in center and would move Granderson to left. Teams that want Granderson to play center likely would offer the Tigers better packages.

Adding Granderson to left field could quite possibly give Seattle the best outfield in baseball.  Granderson would be a plus defender in left and would give Seattle a solid #2 or 3 hitter against right handed pitching.

But Granderson is one of the best bargains in baseball as he’s still young and signed to a team friendly deal, so I can’t imagine he’d come cheap.  That said, if the Tigers are as desperate to cut costs as they seem to be they may make a deal that doesn’t quite make sense.  On the other hand, Granderson’s $5.5M 2010 salary should be the least of their worries.

I’ll leave the armchair GMing to you, but a package for Jackson and Granderson centered around Morrow, Michael Saunders and a hard throwing reliever (or two) makes for an intriguing thought.  That would be quite the blockbuster.