Matt Cain’s situation with Giants remains precarious, considering the pitcher’s struggles in spring training.

Giants general manager Bobby Evans expressed concern over Cain’s chances of starting for San Francisco during the regular season in an interview with KNBR on Tuesday.

“Yeah, I just don’t know,” Evans said about Cain starting sometime this season. “I think we’ve got to break (camp) with the guys that we think are going to help us for the whole year. … He could get some starts, but at the same time, I can’t speak to that. I think we just have to wait and see how this spring finishes.” Related Articles Giants lose Yastrzemski, Anderson early, roar back to sweep Mariners, climb above .500

Giants starter Tyler Andreson ejected for arguing balls and strikes in third inning vs. Mariners

Mike Yastrzemski exits in second inning of Giants’ series finale against Mariners

Why Austin Slater’s playing time will likely be limited for remainder of SF Giants’ season

SF Giants-San Diego Padres to play doubleheader during final weekend of season

It hasn’t started well. Cain has ceded 16 hits and 11 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings over four games, including three starts, while managing just five strikeouts. Evans called the situation “hard to classify” but wanted to refrain from making “any quick judgments” with spring training not done.

“His overall command is better, his curveball has been better,” Evans said. “But still, pitches up in the zone are not getting blown by anybody, so they’re still getting hit hard. So we’ve got to find ways to create more deception for him.”

The Giants remain resilient in working on development with Cain, whose base salary this season is set at $20 million. That figure isn’t a factor, though, according to Evans.

“It’s really not about the money at this point,” Evans said. “It’s really about how can we get the most out of a player that has, in many ways, put us in the position that we’re in, and the fact that we’ve won three championships. He’s a big part of all three of those. At the end of the day, we’ve got to make sure that we don’t not get everything we can in terms of 2017 if he’s got an ability to help us.”

In that vein, Evans was asked if Cain could transition to the bullpen.

“We’re really looking at him as a starter. I think to really change his mentality midstream of the spring, when the job is still available and it’s still being fought for, it would probably an injustice to him,” Evans said. “He deserves a chance to show us what he can do as a starter.”

Still, the GM didn’t rule out the possibility of a change.

“If we come to a conclusion, or he comes to a conclusion, that the starter opportunity’s not there, then the discussion of the bullpen can become part of our process with him and his with us,” Evans said. “It’d be hard to start the season having competed for the starter role and then start the season in the bullpen. It’d be a challenge. It may require some time in the minor leagues adjusting to that role. But, again, that’s not really in the discussion right now.”

Evans dismissed any idea of the Giants asking Cain to hang up his cleats.

“I would doubt retirement would ever come up,” Evans said. “He’s got too much fire in him to probably even consider that.”