Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik has said that he is on the verge of trading first baseman Mike Carp, whom the team designated for assignment last week.

But the Milwaukee Brewers, a team with a glaring need at first base, are not in the mix for Carp, major-league source say.

The Brewers lost Mat Gamel to a season-ending ACL injury on Monday. They also will open the season without Corey Hart, who is recovering from knee surgery.

But rather than trade for Carp or sign a free agent such as Carlos Lee, the Brewers first will examine their internal options – Taylor Green, Hunter Morris and Alex Gonzalez.

If those options prove unappealing, the team could pursue a first-base type on a minor-league contract later in the spring. Two former Brewers - the Red Sox’s Lyle Overbay and Orioles’ Travis Ishikawa – fit that description, as does the New York Yankees’ Juan Rivera.

Gonzalez, a shortstop for his entire 14-year career, doesn’t sound enthused about playing first. He told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, “I don’t know yet about that,” when asked about the possibility.

The Brewers, though, are kicking around the idea that Gonzalez could become for them what Michael Young was for the Rangers in recent seasons, bouncing all over the infield.

Green, too, offers versatility with his ability to play second and third base. Carp plays only first, and the Brewers would have no place for him after Hart returned.

-Ken Rosenthal