PEORIA, Ariz. -- The rumors are inevitable, and Padres reliever Scott Linebrink knows it. One minute he's heading to the New York Mets. The next it's Philadelphia. Even a trade with an organization on Mars seems plausible.

It seems that since just before the trade deadline last July 31, the tall Texan has been a coveted entity throughout baseball. And that leaves his name popping up here, there and everywhere.

But Linebrink wants nothing to do with trade gossip. And it should come as no surprise that the 30-year-old right-hander is focusing his attention toward venues other than hot stove rumors.

Take the mound, for instance.

"It's just one of the distractions (in) baseball," Linebrink said. "There are certain things you can't control, and so if you spend any kind of energy then that's counterproductive toward focusing on the things you can control: your routine, your work ethic and keeping yourself in shape. Those are the things that I'm making a priority. If you start getting wrapped up in it, it's hard to channel that (energy) sometimes.

"I think for the most part it just would take away from what I'm trying to do."

Linebrink may need to avoid getting wrapped up again in the near future.

Catcher Todd Greene dislocated his shoulder on Wednesday and is likely out for all of spring training -- possibly longer. Greene's exit leaves the Padres short-handed when it comes to a right-handed bat off the bench.

And that could leave general manager Kevin Towers looking to deal.

If so, Linebrink's name will surely surface again. He is Towers' biggest chip at the poker table, and with several new hard throwers in the mix, Towers might have options. Last month, Linebrink was reportedly the bargaining chip in exchange for Philadelphia outfielder Aaron Rowand.

But for the time being, Towers said no dice. Linebrink isn't going anywhere.

"(Philadelphia) was overblown," Towers said. "We'd like to keep our bullpen intact. We haven't had any talks with clubs in two-to-three months. I don't want to give up anybody. You can't have enough bullpen depth, and our depth will be a real plus."

Linebrink has been a plus since he was picked up off waivers from Houston on May 29, 2003 for $20,000.

For the past 3 1/2 seasons, the 1997 second-round pick of the San Francisco Giants has been a force in the Padres' 'pen. He is 24-9 mark with three saves and a 2.57 ERA in 294 innings. He also has 90 holds since 2004, including a National League-high 36 last year.

"Performance-wise he's no different from Trevor (Hoffman)," Padres reliever Cla Meredith said. "He's invaluable to us. Usually a guy (with his stuff) is closing somewhere."

Count the current closer as one who knows the score. Even though Linebrink's ERA rose to 3.57 in 2006, his presence meant that Hoffman never pitched more than an inning.

That fact isn't lost on Hoffman.

"This team, it needs him," Hoffman said. "It's a direct reflection of the way Akinori Otsuka pitched the year before, and Scotty Linebrink has pitched the last three years picking up a large amount of the seventh and eighth inning duties. It's not just the closer. You might get some handsome dollar amount salaries, but it's the work that these guys are doing that people are starting to see. The good teams have more than two guys down in the bullpen that create short games."

Hoffman -- whose $7.5-million option for 2008 kicks in if he finishes 40 games this season -- figures Linebrink has created a lucrative opportunity for himself if he becomes a free agent after the season. He believes Linebrink's 94-97 mph fastball, changeup, splitter and all those holds could attract quite a few suitors.

"He's going to be faced with the opportunity to go out on the free-agent market and be a closer for any number of teams," Hoffman said. "He's going to be a valuable commodity next year, and he's getting a little pre-look this year because of all of the talk of him going in trades."

But being a closer isn't essential for Linebrink.

In a sense, he is already pitching in the ninth because his opponents don't expect to score against Hoffman, he said, so they gear up for him instead.

"If the opportunity came along," Linebrink said he would take a closing job. "But it's not something I set as a goal. I enjoy (the setup role). I don't feel I'm missing out. There's plenty of pressure involved. I take a lot of pride in getting a quick inning so Trevor can come in and do his job."

It's a job Linebrink does well. Hence the rumors.

Interest in Linebrink has been soaring since last July when Mets setup man Duaner Sanchez was lost for the season to injury and the Braves were looking for a closer while dangling third baseman Wilson Betemit. From there, it has been one rumored trade after another. But if the talk affects Linebrink, he's not showing it.

"I read a quote where he said he realizes talk is part of the game and he won't let it affect him," Padres manager Bud Black said. "When I read that I understood he had the right frame of mind. If your name pops up often I think you naturally become hardened to it. Scott's a part of this team that makes us what we are. …

"He's one of those guys you're happy he's on your side."

Linebrink is happy to be with the Padres. He's glad to be the bridge to Hoffman in the ninth, and he's not interested in pitching anywhere else.

He doesn't think he's leaving, either.

"(Philadelphia) has been beat like a dead horse," said Linebrink, who was traded from San Francisco to Houston for Doug Henry in 2000. "I've got to believe that it's nothing more than talk. It's the deals that you don't hear about that end up happening. … It's a great group of guys (here). You know when you leave that door you've got six or seven guys behind you cheering you on, and ready to take the fall when you come out.

"It's good to know that you have the support of your bullpen mates."

Padres notes

IF Geoff Blum (back) was still limited in Saturday's workout, but was able to swing the bat. … 3B Russell Branyan took a Cla Meredith off-speed pitch off his knee, but was able to return to the batting cage five minutes later. …

Manager Bud Black tuned in to ESPN to watch a college men's lacrosse match between Duke and Dartmouth that featured La Costa Canyon High grad Casey Hingtgen. Black said Hingtgen, a freshman, is a family friend.

Contact staff writer Dan Hayes at dhayes@nctimes.com.