PEORIA, Ariz. ? While there are several “ifs” in the process, some of them big and some of them expensive, there is more than a passing chance the Seattle Mariners are giving serious consideration to bringing Ken Griffey Jr. back.

Cincinnati is known to be looking to move Griffey’s contract with $66.5 million still due him for five guaranteed years, plus an option for 2009. Officials of the Seattle club are believed to have had a number of internal discussions on the matter, including here at training camp.

A source among Griffey’s friends said Griffey would be happy to return.

Seattle has made no secret of its search to upgrade its offense, and Griffey, if he is healthy and willing to return as a purely positive influence, could be the optimum fit on the field.

In addition, the outfielder, who left Seattle to be with his hometown Cincinnati team prior to the 2000 season, would fulfill what may be perceived as the team’s need to make a public-relations bang.

This is not to suggest the Mariners are set on bringing back Griffey to the town in which he made the All-Century team, or that they will do anything at all.

The biggest hurdle to returning Griffey could be the five guaranteed years left on his contract, starting at age 34 with major injuries wiping out most of his past two seasons. Balanced against that is the fact that Griffey’s money is spread out for years after he is done playing — $6.5 million a year is deferred.

Yet, in the offseason the Mariners were unable to accomplish one of their goals, to add a big bat — as second baseman Bret Boone put it, “a bopper” — to an offense that ranked seventh in the American League in scoring and 13th in home runs, topping only Tampa Bay.

Tampering rules prevent speaking of specific players, but there are extremely few outfielders available to, in the words of Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi early this spring, “add some kind of offense.”

“We’re ready to act now, and we’ll be talking to every team,” Bavasi said. “But probably nothing would happen until spring games start and other teams see what they have, what they might be willing to do and what they need.”

With Milwaukee recently signing Geoff Jenkins to a multiyear contract, the list is seemingly limited to Magglio Ordonez of the Chicago White Sox, a free agent after this year, and Griffey, in the midst of a long-term deal with the Reds that pays him $62.5 million for five more years.

Being a center fielder and a left-handed bat, Griffey would appear to be better built for Seattle than Ordonez, a right-side hitter and right fielder.

Seattle manager Bob Melvin has made clear his reluctance to shift Ichiro to center, which would be necessitated by trading for Ordonez, who will make $14 million this year.

Carlos Beltran of Kansas City is another outfielder once believed to be on the market. But there are several significant reasons Beltran, who will make $8 million this season, would not be available. First, the Royals are expected to be a contender in the AL Central. Second, there is strong speculation that agent Scott Boras will take Beltran to free agency, where he would top next winter’s talent list.

“With Griffey, if he’s healthy and still got his power,” a National League scout noted, “you don’t ever have to worry his power is juiced (steroid-aided). He is natural and always has been, and these days that’s no small thing to consider.”