DETROIT -- Add Joe Beimel to the list of left-handed relievers the Tigers have explored. The club has had conversations with the former Dodgers, agent Joe Sroba confirmed Wednesday morning.

While the Tigers have placed priority on adding a shortstop, catcher and closer, they've also started to at least explore the option of upgrading the left side of their bullpen. Detroit also has shown interest in fellow free agents Darren Oliver and Arthur Rhodes. Several other options exist on the trade market.

Team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski has said he would like to have two left-handers available in the bullpen. That setup worked well for them during the run to the postseason in 2006, when Jamie Walker and Bobby Seay formed an effective duo in the seventh and eighth innings. Seay and Tim Byrdak did much the same in 2007.

That depth never seemed to form this past season. While Seay allowed a .303 batting average to left-handed hitters, Detroit struggled to find another option after releasing Byrdak in Spring Training. Clay Rapada held lefties to a .237 average, but he walked seven in 47 plate appearances. Lefties batted .243 against Casey Fossum, but he struggled in longer outings against right-handed batters.

Dombrowski is hoping to have Macay McBride as an internal candidate alongside Rapada. However, McBride is coming back from elbow surgery that limited him to one inning at Triple-A Toledo this year.

Beimel is one of several free-agent lefties receiving widespread interest. At least a half-dozen teams have shown interest in him, Sroba said. Those conversations have picked up in recent days since fellow lefties Damaso Marte and Jeremy Affeldt signed.

The 31-year-old Beimel went 5-1 with a 2.02 ERA this past season for the Dodgers, tossing 49 innings over 71 appearances. Left-handed hitters batted .278 against him in 2008, compared to a .263 average against right-hander batters. His previous two seasons in Los Angeles, however, saw lefty hitters bat .188 against him in '07 and .234 in '06.

One free-agent left-hander whom the Tigers are not currently pursuing is Will Ohman, who appears to be emerging as one of the more desirable setup relievers on the market. While as many as 10 teams have had discussions regarding Ohman, the Tigers have not been in touch, agent Page Odle told MLB.com on Tuesday.

Ohman has a contract offer from the Braves which is believed to be for two years and $8 million.