SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–The Giants’ reluctance to name a closer suggests the roster remains unsettled and new president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is likely considering trading from a surplus of depth in the bullpen.

After embracing competition up and down the roster this spring, it didn’t come as much of a surprise when manager Bruce Bochy announced an open battle for the team’s closer job at the beginning of camp.

But as they prepared to leave Arizona on Saturday, Bochy still hadn’t named his closer, and that’s a surprise considering how the incumbent, Will Smith, has performed this spring.

Smith saved 14 games in 18 chances after taking over the closer role in late June and posted a 2.55 ERA in the best season of his professional career. After returning from Tommy John surgery in May, Smith became one of the team’s most reliable relievers and gave manager Bruce Bochy a valuable left-handed option who could match up against both righties and lefties.

The Giants could have handed Smith the job on the first day of the spring, but Bochy instead wanted to allow veteran Mark Melancon and a handful of others to compete for the right to pitch in the ninth inning. After a full month of games, Melancon has pitched his way out of the closer mix while Smith has thrown five scoreless innings in five appearances.

While right-hander Reyes Moronta is considered “closer-of-the-future” material and lefty Tony Watson is a model of consistency, Smith’s mid-90s fastball, hard breaking ball and recent track record of success in the ninth inning should make him the odds-on favorite to close for the Giants.

With Opening Day just five days out, Smith has yet to be informed if the job is his.

Smith is one of the most enticing trade assets on the Giants roster and Zaidi could be weighing whether it makes sense to part with one of his best relievers in exchange for a right-handed hitter who can aid a lineup that needs more power. Though Smith is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, he has more trade value than most members of the Giants bullpen because he’s set to earn just $4.225 million this year.

Unless there’s concern over Smith’s arm strength and ability to pitch on back-to-back days –something he did several times last year– there’s no obvious reason for the Giants to wait to name their closer.

The club informed three minor league free agents, Yangervis Solarte, Gerardo Parra and Nick Vincent, they officially made the Opening Day roster, so Zaidi and Bochy have inched closer toward determining which 25 players will begin the year in San Diego with the Giants. However, the Giants haven’t set defined bullpen roles and haven’t even settled on an order for the team’s starting rotation.

The Giants did, however, execute one trade Saturday without sacrificing a pitcher as they acquired outfielder Michael Reed from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for minor league outfielder John Andreoli. Reed is right-handed and has a career .382 on-base percentage in parts of eight minor league seasons. He also has 22 games of major league experience, but was not going to land on the Twins’ Opening Day roster.

To clear space on the 40-man roster for Reed, the Giants designated left-handed pitcher Steven Okert for assignment. Okert was not going to make the Giants’ 25-man roster after Rule 5 draft choice and fellow left-hander Travis Bergen outperformed San Francisco’s 2012 fourth round draft choice this spring.

Even with a number of minor transactions over the last several days, the lack of final decisions in the rotation and the bullpen indicate at least one or two arms could be on their way out within the week. The Giants have a logjam of capable arms including several who are out of minor league options and are still searching for experienced major league talent in the outfield.

San Francisco is in dire need of outfielders and after releasing Cameron Maybin on Thursday, the club doesn’t have a backup for center fielder Steven Duggar yet and could also use more depth in both corners.

Giants release Rivera

Minor league free agent Rene Rivera was released Saturday as the club elected to cut ties with the veteran catcher days before the start of the regular season.

Rivera battled with Aramis Garcia for the chance to serve as Buster Posey’s primary backup and impressed Giants pitchers with his game-calling skills. However, the Giants like Garcia’s versatility and athleticism and Zaidi would have had to clear an additional 40-man roster spot to keep Rivera.

Garcia is in line to open the year with the Giants after hitting .283 with four home runs in 63 at-bats last season.

Giants acquire Yastrzemski

The Giants announced Saturday they acquired outfielder Mike Yastrzemski from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for right-handed pitcher Tyler Herb. Yastrzemski will report to minor league camp after hitting .265 with a .753 OPS for the Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate last year.

Yastrzemski is the grandson of Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, an 18-time All-Star who also won three batting titles and a Triple Crown during a 23-year major league career.