• Still no signs — none — that the Padres are willing to trade closer Heath Bell to the Rangers or any other club before Opening Day.

The Padres, coming off a 90-win season, are reluctant to upset their fan base before even playing a game, particularly after trading first baseman Adrian Gonzalez during the offseason.

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The Mariners, recognizing that their offense would be challenged, made a strong push for Gonzalez late in spring training a year ago, according to a major-league source.

Good thing the Padres kept Gonzalez; their surprising 2010 season would have turned out much differently otherwise.

• A scout in Arizona expresses concern about Brewers closer John Axford, who has an 8.44 ERA in seven appearances this spring.

“He has a very complicated delivery,” the scout says. “You have to manage him day by day, inning by inning, pitch by pitch.”

Rick Peterson, the Brewers’ former pitching coach, succeeded in doing that with Axford last season. Peterson’s replacement, Rick Kranitz, inherits the challenge.

• The Marlins are unlikely to seek outside help at third base if they demote Matt Dominguez, according to a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking.

Dominguez, batting .175 entering Wednesday’s play, looks increasingly unlikely to make the club. The Marlins’ current plan is to use Omar Infante at second and choose from among Emilio Bonifacio, Wes Helms and Donnie Murphy at third.

The team does not want to add to its projected Opening Day payroll of approximately $60 million.

• The Padres and A’s are among the teams looking for backup infielders who can play shortstop. The Orioles’ Robert Andino and Mets’ Luis Hernandez, both of whom are out of options, are among the players who likely could be had.

The Padres’ need stems from Kevin Frandsen’s difficulties playing shortstop. Everth Cabrera could serve as Jason Bartlett’s backup, but the Padres want Cabrera to play at Triple A.

• Tigers right-hander Brad Penny, engaged to “Dancing with the Stars” pro Karina Smirnoff, jokes that her demeanor is the opposite of his.

“She’s a real good girl, easy to be around,” Penny says. “She’s great. You’d love her. Great personality. Kind of goes with mine — no personality.”

• Finally, here’s to Will Rhymes, the 5-foot-9, 155-pound battler who says he overcame a “lifetime of being an underdog” to win the Tigers’ second-base job.

Rhymes, a 27th-round pick in 2005, was not even invited to major-league spring training last season; the Tigers were grooming another prospect, Scott Sizemore, for the job.

This time Rhymes beat out Sizemore, in large part because he batted .304 in 191 at-bats last season, manager Jim Leyland said.

Rhymes, who turns 28 on April 1, figures to remain at second until Carlos Guillen recovers from microfracture knee surgery, which could be a while.

— Ken Rosenthal

The Minnesota Twins have chosen Scott Baker over Kevin Slowey as their No. 5 starter, and sources say they are willing to trade Slowey for a late-inning reliever.

But even with Slowey’s success last season — 13-6 with a 4.45 ERA — the Twins don’t appear to have an abundance of trade options.

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The ideal trade partner would (a) need a right-handed starter and (b) be able to deal from a surplus of major league-caliber relievers. Right now, few (if any) teams match that description.

Two clubs that are looking for a starting pitcher — the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners — are also short on relievers.

Teams that could or will be without starters on Opening Day — the Cardinals (Adam Wainwright), Dodgers (Jon Garland), Blue Jays (Brandon Morrow) and White Sox (Jake Peavy) — seem inclined to go with internal options.

Slowey, who has a career 4.41 ERA in the American League, should be an appealing target for National League teams with young rotations. But officials from the Arizona Diamondbacks and Pittsburgh Pirates say they aren’t actively looking for major-league starters via trade.

The Toronto Blue Jays have been mentioned this spring as a possible trade partner for the Twins, but the teams don’t have an easy fit right now. The Blue Jays aren’t in position to part with relievers, with Frank Francisco and Octavio Dotel possibly starting the season on the disabled list.

The Twins are looking to fortify their middle relief after a number of off-season departures, including Jesse Crain, Matt Guerrier, Jon Rauch and Brian Fuentes. Team officials have been impressed by Carlos Gutierrez and Kyle Waldrop in camp this spring, but neither has pitched in the majors.

Slowey became more expendable with the rapid rise of right-hander Kyle Gibson, who was ranked among the top 40 prospects in the game by Baseball America this spring.

When asked this week about the likelihood of using Gibson, 23, in the majors this year, Twins general manager Bill Smith said, “We’ll see how things go. He’s only pitched one year in the minor leagues. He was very successful. He was our minor-league pitcher of the year. He needs to get stretched out. He’s going to start in the minor leagues. When we need help, we try and go get the best guy.”

— Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal

The Nationals are a team to watch as the spring draws to a close. The team is trying to trade Ivan Rodriguez to clear the No. 1 catching job for Wilson Ramos and also faces decisions on outfielders Nyjer Morgan and Roger Bernadina, major-league sources say.

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The thinking on Rodriguez is that he might be unhappy in a backup role. The Red Sox are among the clubs that the Nationals contacted about a trade, but the Sox are content with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jason Varitek, sources say. The only catcher the Sox want to add is a veteran who could provide insurance at Triple A.

The Nationals might prefer a third catcher, Jesus Flores, to start the season at Triple A; one rival executive says that Flores, coming off a right-shoulder injury, still isn’t throwing well. So, if the Nats traded Rodriguez, they might need to find another veteran catcher to back up Ramos.

Meanwhile, the competition in center field remains intense. The Nats could end up using a platoon of Rick Ankiel, a left-handed hitter, and Jerry Hairston, a switch-hitter. If that happens, both Morgan and Bernadina will be squeezed; the Nats plan to keep veterans Matt Stairs and Laynce Nix as bench players, sources say.

One area of concern for the Nats is the bullpen; Drew Storen, the projected closer, has an 11.74 ERA in seven appearances this spring, and the team now plans to use a committee to protect late-inning leads.

Righty Henry Rodriguez, obtained from the A’s in the Josh Willingham trade, has struggled but is out of options. Righty Brian Broderick, a Rule 5 pick from the Cardinals, has allowed just one run in 12-2/3 innings.

— Ken Rosenthal

Bartolo Colon’s outstanding six-inning outing against the Rays on Monday night probably assured him of at least a spot in the Yankees bullpen.

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Colon, like fellow right-hander Freddy Garcia, can request his release if he is not added to the major-league roster next week, according to a major-league source.

Garcia’s opt-out date is March 29, two days before the Yankees open their season against the Tigers. Colon’s date is believed to be March 31 — and based on his performance this spring, another team almost certainly would want him.

Another Yankees righty, Sergio Mitre, is out of minor-league options; the team will risk losing him as well if they attempt to send him to the minors.

Perhaps the only way for the Yankees to keep Garcia, Colon and Mitre would be to demote right-hander Ivan Nova. But Nova, with a 1.29 ERA in 14 innings in Grapefruit League play, seemingly has earned a place on the team.

Garcia, who rarely pitches well in the spring, has a 5.93 ERA in 13 2/3 innings. Colon has a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings, Mitre a 2.25 ERA in eight innings.

— Ken Rosenthal

If Luis Castillo makes the Phillies, he will give them insurance for second baseman Chase Utley over the next 3 to 4 weeks, maybe longer. But the moment Utley returns from his right-knee injury, Castillo would have virtually no role with the club.

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No matter.

For Castillo, signing with the Phillies is worth the risk.

His image was badly tarnished during his time with the Mets. Getting out of New York will give him a chance to restore his reputation and increase his appeal to other clubs.

The question, of course, is whether Castillo can still play.

One rival general manager says that Castillo is “done.” A Phillies veteran believes the team would have been better off choosing from their infielders already in camp – Wilson Valdez, Peter Orr, Josh Barfield and Michael Martinez.

Castillo, 35, has lost range at second due to his injuries. But he is a .290 career hitter who produced a .387 on-base percentage as recently as 2009. He is said to be in good shape, and past teammates consider him a winning player.

The Phillies host the Mets in the second series of the season, April 5 to 7. If everything works out for Castillo, his redemption could begin right then, against his former team.

— Ken Rosenthal

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, trying to avoid surgery on his right knee, said Sunday that he is “moving in the right direction.” But at the same time, he acknowledged that he is barely moving at all.

Utley is taking batting practice, but still not running. He will not be close to returning until he starts testing his knee more rigorously. And that day does not appear to be coming anytime soon.

How important is Utley to the Phillies?

Ask his double-play partner, Jimmy Rollins.

“Chase is very important — very important,” Rollins said. “He’s an All-Star player even if he’s not having an All-Star year. On the field, we’re together. It’s like captain and co-captain.

“I bring the swag. But you think of a guy who’s tough. Chase gets hit (by pitches) 18 or 19 times a year and all he does is grit his teeth. You think of Philly being a tough team, that’s who comes up, that’s it.

“It doesn’t mean other guys aren’t tough. But he’s the face of toughness. He wants to go out there and destroy you. You can see it on his face when he’s trying to take someone out at second base. That’s what he brings. Everybody is a part of the puzzle. That’s the part he brings in — that toughness.”

— Ken Rosenthal

Blue Jays catcher Jose Molina said Saturday that his older brother Bengie still wants to play in the majors. However, Jose made it clear that Bengie only will sign a contract that shows him sufficient respect, seemingly ruling out any chance of a minor-league deal.

Bengie Molina, who turns 37 on July 20, earned $4.5 million last season while playing for both World Series participants, the Giants and Rangers. His .623 OPS was his lowest since 2002, and any interested club surely would wonder how long it would take him to get in game shape.

Jose Molina, a former Yankee, was part of the Jays’ traveling contingent to Tampa on Saturday for a Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. Jose said that Yankees manager Joe Girardi asked him if Bengie planned to resume his career, but Girardi might have inquired only out of curiosity. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said flatly that the team is not looking for outside help at catcher.

Still, the Yankees are not exactly set at the position. Russell Martin, the new starter, is coming off knee surgery, a hip injury and two poor offensive seasons. Jesus Montero has regressed in the past 10 days, scouts say, and is engaged in a “cage fight” with Austin Romine for the backup job, according to Cashman.

— Ken Rosenthal

For a guy the Mets couldn’t wait to purge, second baseman Luis Castillo sure is attracting a lot of interest.

At least three clubs are thought to be in on Castillo — the Phillies, Cubs and Marlins. The Orioles also could enter the mix, given their uncertainty over second baseman Brian Roberts, who has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game due to back trouble.

Given the demand, Castillo figures to sign quickly after clearing waivers Sunday afternoon. Of course, it helps that the Mets will pay virtually all of Castillo’s $6 million salary. Any team that signs him will be responsible only for the $414,000 major-league minimum.

The Phillies’ interest stems from their concern over second baseman Chase Utley’s lingering knee trouble. The Cubs currently plan to go with a platoon of Jeff Baker and Blake DeWitt at second. The Marlins would want Castillo to play at second and Omar Infante at third if they demoted rookie third baseman Matt Dominguez, who is batting .219 this spring, but with a .762 OPS.

Castillo, 35, is a switch-hitter with a .290 lifetime batting average. He had a .387 on-base percentage in 2009, but injuries limited him to fewer than 90 games in both ’08 and ’10.

— Ken Rosenthal

• The Rockies are beginning to look like they might have decent rotation depth — perhaps even enough to trade right-hander Aaron Cook once he is healthy.

Start with right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, lefty Jorge De La Rosa and righties Jason Hammel and Jhoulys Chacin — a formidable front four.

Right-hander Esmil Rogers also is throwing well, and the Rockies believe that righties John Maine and Greg Reynolds will contribute at some point as well.

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Cook, set to earn $9.25 million this season, began the spring with right shoulder tightness, then suffered a broken right ring finger. He would be difficult to move, but at least the Rockies are in a position in which they do not need to rely on him.

• Talk about a roster crunch. By the end of spring training, the Mariners could bid farewell to five members of their 40-man roster, or 16 percent.

The M’s invited 23 non-roster players to spring training, and at least five stand reasonable chances of making the team — catcher Josh Bard, infielder Adam Kennedy, right-handers Jamey Wright and Chris Ray and one of two outfielders, Ryan Langerhans or Gabe Gross.

The Mariners currently are at the maximum 40. Left-hander Garrett Olson already is on waivers, according to a major-league source.

• Another issue for the M’s: Their bullpen.

“It starts with (Brandon) League,” one scout says. “Try to name the next guy.”

The M’s might need lots of “next guys” if they open with rookie right-hander Michael Pineda and lefty Erik Bedard in their rotation. Neither is likely to work deep into games, at least initially.

• Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers, who spent last season scouting with the Yankees, offers yet another ringing endorsement for the Yanks’ top pitching prospects — and actually likes right-hander Dellin Betances even better than lefty Manny Banuelos.

Betances, 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, “might be King Felix," Towers says.

Banuelos?

“Teddy Higuera in his prime,” Towers says, “but with a better arm.”

• New Dodgers first base coach Davey Lopes raves about the work ethic of shortstop prospect Dee Gordon, who is the son of former major-league pitcher Tom Gordon.

Lopes says that Gordon is inquisitive about the game and absorbs information like a sponge.

“His dad taught him right,” Lopes says.

• Finally, check out my video interview with the Dodgers’ Andre Ethier, who tells an amusing story about working out last offseason with the Red Sox’s Dustin Pedroia at a rehabilitation center in Gilbert, Ariz.

“He’s into yelling at other patients,” Ethier says. “It’s a public place where anyone comes in to work out. You had some old retirees to young kids battling stuff. He’s in there mixing it up with all of them, asking them what’s going on, challenging them or trying to outdo them in an exercise.

“It was pretty comical for me, and I bet for those patients in there getting a chance to have some little crazy guy yelling at them every day.”

— Ken Rosenthal

Three years ago, Cory Wade was so indispensable to the Los Angeles Dodgers that he appeared in seven of their eight postseason games.

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Now, he’s trying to earn a spot in the Tampa Bay bullpen, which was riddled by offseason departures. He made a strong impression against Florida on Wednesday, allowing one earned run in 2-2/3 innings.

“I was put in a good situation, to come over here and have a fighting chance to make the team,” Wade said. “I’m really grateful.”

Wade hasn’t pitched in the majors since July 2009. He had a 5.40 ERA in 25 appearances with three Dodgers affiliates last year. But at 27, Wade certainly isn’t too old for a career revival, after undergoing right shoulder surgery in March 2010.

“Essentially, even though I pitched the last two months, it was a lost year,” Wade said. “I struggled in July. I pitched really well in August. But everybody kind of told me it was going to take a full year — maybe even a little longer, until May or June (of this season).

“But when I go out, I feel fine. No issues or anything like that. It’s been good.”

The Rays bullpen could remain in flux long after the Opening Day roster is set. Manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday that he plans to use a closer-by-committee approach.

— Jon Paul Morosi