Trevor

Bell

If all goes well, he hopes to make his spring debut by Monday. The Angels don’t need a fifth starter for the first time until April 15 and Williams believes he’ll be ready by then. Garrett Richards, Trevor Bell and Eric Hurley are also in the mix for the final spot in the starting rotation.

Bell had multiple stints with the Angels last season but was nothing more than a ''mop-up man.’' His future in Anaheim remains in question. The move trims the Opening Day roster down to 33 players.

The injury is expected to sideline him for ''at least a week or two,’' but may not be enough to foil his chances of making the Angels this spring. Williams is competing with Garrett Richards, Trevor Bell, Brad Mills and Eric Hurley for the fifth spot in the starting rotation.

The right-hander walked two and fanned three in what was his finest spring outing. In the process, he lowered his ERA to 3.72 in 9 2/3 innings.

Bell gets the boot after posting a miserable 8.27 ERA and 19/24 K/BB ratio over 10 starts with Triple-A Salt Lake this year. The 25-year-old right-hander owns a 5.21 ERA in the majors. He’ll attempt to latch on with a new organization.

Bell owns a career 5.21 ERA in the majors and put up an ugly 8.27 mark and 19/24 K/BB ratio over 10 starts for Triple-A Salt Lake with the Angels in 2012. He’s around for minor league depth.

Bell had a rough 7.03 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 27/27 K/BB ratio in 48 2/3 innings last season in the Angels’ farm system. The 26-year-old righty is probably a lost cause.

Bell, 23, had a 2.04 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over three starts with the Bees this season. The 2005 first-round pick was 1-2 with a 9.74 ERA over eight appearances (four starts) with the Angels last season.

It’s a procedural move, as Bell has already missed 60 days. The reliever began a rehab assignment earlier this month and could be an option for the Reds’ bullpen before long.

He walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning. Bell should be healthy enough to rejoin the Reds’ bullpen soon, but he’s not a given to be added to the big league roster.