Competitions heat up for final Giants roster spots

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Scottsdale, Ariz. --

The medical forecast over the next 10 days calls for queasy stomachs all around spring camps as bubble players await their fates.

These are not usually the most important decisions a team will make, picking the final two, three, four guys for the 25-man roster. But they are important to the players who dread that tap on the shoulder and invitation to the manager's office, which usually means a trip to the minors or their release.

Some teams face bigger calls than others. The Diamondbacks, for instance, need to decide if top prospect Archie Bradley should get thrown into the big-league rotation right away, or spend more time in the minors. The Red Sox have to make the same call with outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.

The Giants have no such Bradley-Bradley decisions. They have what looks to be one opening on the infield, one in the outfield and two or three in the bullpen.

A fizzling fifth-outfield competition might be heating up, but the infield and bullpen fights have intrigued all spring and the Giants have candidates aplenty.

Outfielder Tyler Colvin, with major-league experience with the Cubs and Rockies, could crack the Giants' roster. Outfielder Tyler Colvin, with major-league experience with the Cubs and Rockies, could crack the Giants' roster. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Competitions heat up for final Giants roster spots 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Here is a breakdown of the competitions, with the caveat that injuries can change everything:

Bullpen: Four of the seven spots are filled with Sergio Romo, Javier Lopez, Santiago Casilla and Jeremy Affeldt.

Jean Machi is not a lock but is expected to make the team. He is on the 40-man roster and the Giants like his late-inning experience, especially in pressure-packed winter ball.

Manager Bruce Bochy still says he wants a long reliever to protect the other arms. That job seemed destined for Yusmeiro Petit, but he has not had a stellar spring. David Huff joined the competition late because of a shoulder injury but is pitching regularly now. Kameron Loe is in the picture, too.

If Machi is in and the Giants take a long reliever, the last spot comes down to Heath Hembree, Dan Runzler and George Kontos, plus dark horses J.C. Gutierrez, Jake Dunning, Derek Law and Erik Cordier, who has that 100 mph fastball.

Hembree and Runzler might have an edge based on their springs, but others have thrown well, too. Cordier has allowed one hit in five innings. Kontos followed a bad initial game with four shutout appearances.

"This is going to be the toughest spring as far as picking the last couple of spots in the bullpen," Bochy said. "We have good options. The guys are throwing the ball well. We have some good arms. It's not going to be easy."

Infield: Joaquin Arias gets one of the two backup spots. Ehire Adrianza has to be favored for the other because he is out of minor-league options. Even though he has only six hits in 31 at-bats, a .194 average, his defense is impeccable and the Giants almost certainly would lose the 24-year-old on waivers if they tried to sneak him through.

Blocking the coronation is Brandon Hicks. At 28, the former Atlanta and Oakland infielder is having a monster spring, hitting .419 with a 1.364 OPS that grew with a loud three-run homer against the Indians on Tuesday night.

"He's in the mix," Bochy said, although Hicks has a minor-league contract and can't be lost on waivers. He can be stashed at Triple-A Fresno if needed.

The decision becomes easier if Marco Scutaro starts the season on the disabled list. The Giants could take two out of Adrianza, Hicks, Tony Abreu or feel-good story Mark Minicozzi, who only plays first base. That is a handicap.

Abreu seems to be the laggard. He picked a bad time for a .158 spring.

Outfield: Despite misgivings about Scutaro's back, which fueled speculation the Giants would go with four outfielders and seven infielders, all indications point to five outfielders. They plan to use Gregor Blanco often as a mid-game replacement for Michael Morse and want another outfielder in reserve, especially with Angel Pagan's back a concern.

Juan Perez has a hot bat this spring and great speed, a plus for a fifth outfielder. But do not count out Tyler Colvin. He has been out of sight, out of mind because of a sore back, but he looked very healthy hitting a home run Tuesday night.

He has value as a left-handed hitter with some pop. He also has an out clause in his minor-league contract allowing him to leave the Giants if he is not on the Opening Night roster.

Roger Kieschnick remains a long shot even though he has been optioned. Bochy told Kieschnick he was still in the running anyway. The team just wanted him to get daily at-bats in the minors camp.

The Giants will scan the waiver wires and investigate role players who become available in trades, always a possibility in the final days before the season as teams form their rosters.