The status of the Padres’ rotation appeared more tenuous than promising as pitchers and catchers reported Wednesday morning. Manager Andy Green characterized Clayton Richard, Luis Perdomo, Dinelson Lamet and Bryan Mitchell as favorites to make the opening-day five, but those four arrived at the Peoria Sports Complex with plenty of question marks. So it goes in a rebuild.



The presence of another group of five, though, signaled progress. Newcomers to big-league camp included Cal Quantrill, Joey Lucchesi, Eric Lauer, Jacob Nix and Brett Kennedy. Those prospects, all drafted since 2015, represent a preview of the future, if unlikely options for the first half of 2018.



“Those guys are all studs coming up,” said Colin Rea, who is attempting to return from Tommy John surgery. “Whether they’re taking your spot or not, I don’t know. It’s kind of like a friendly competition thing.”



The Padres expect to spend at least...