YES Network.com

Nearly a century after The Bambino left Boston, could the “Bam-Tino” be headed to Beantown?

Maybe, according to ESPNBoston.com’s Joe McDonald, who Tweeted Wednesday afternoon that the Red Sox have had “preliminary talks” with former Yankees first baseman Tino Martinez about their hitting coach vacancy.

Earlier this week, new Red Sox manager John Farrell told the media he would be interested in possibly hiring two hitting coaches to replace Dave Magadan, who left to become Texas’ hitting coach after six seasons in Boston, and would be interviewing candidates this weekend.

Martinez, who played 16 MLB seasons, was a career .271 hitter with 339 home runs. He played seven total seasons with the Yankees, manning first base from 1996-2001 and again in 2005, winning four World Championships and hitting .276 overall with 192 homers and 739 RBI; he also had his best career season in pinstripes in 1997, posting a .296-44-141 line and finishing second in AL MVP voting to Ken Griffey, Jr.

Though he has no professional coaching experience, Martinez has stayed involved in baseball since retiring after the 2005 season; he has served as a Yankees spring instructor and special assistant to GM Brian Cashman, and has also been an analyst for YES Network broadcasts.

Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroYES