Giants maxing out on payroll, relying heavily on Matt Cain

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NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Mark Melancon signing pretty much ended any talk of the Giants adding another player with a big contract.

The only way the team could take on that type of player — J.D. Martinez, anybody? — is by moving a player with a similar salary, according to general manager Bobby Evans.

“We just don’t have that kind of tradeable contracts,” Evans said Wednesday at the winter meetings, suggesting the Giants’ payroll is close to maxing out.

The Giants have 11 big-money players signed to multiyear deals, all but one with secure jobs in 2017. The only man who must win a spot is the one with the longest tenure: Matt Cain.

And, no, the Giants don’t intend to try to trade the 32-year-old pitcher in a dollar-for-dollar transaction. Approaching the end of his six-year, $127.5 million contract, Cain is the favorite for the final rotation spot.

But he’ll need to be better. And healthier.

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain delivers against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 31, 2016, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron) San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain delivers against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 31, 2016, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron) Photo: D. ROSS CAMERON, Associated Press Photo: D. ROSS CAMERON, Associated Press Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Giants maxing out on payroll, relying heavily on Matt Cain 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

“I’ve talked with Matt at length already this winter,” Evans said, “and his expectation and commitment is to come in here and fight for that fifth spot. I believe he can give us a significant number of innings and perform at the level we’re familiar with. We’re a much better team if he can do that.”

But can he be the old Cain?

He wasn’t the past three years, going 8-19 with a 5.13 ERA while starting 15, 11 and 17 games, respectively. He had an epic 2012, the first year of his contract, as the ace (16-5, 2.79 ERA) of a World Series-champion team, but posted a 4.00 ERA in 2013 and hasn’t rebounded.

Injuries keep getting in the way. The elbow surgery in August 2014. The flexor-tendon injury that cost him the first three months of 2015. The cyst removal early last spring. The hamstring strain in May. The re-injury in June.

Then came the demotion to the bullpen in September.

Along with left field and a bullpen spot or two, Cain is the biggest unknown on the roster. He’ll be given every chance to rejoin the rotation with lefty Ty Blach an insurance policy.

Is Evans optimistic Cain will have a bounce-back year?

“I’m very hopeful,” he said. “He’s not having to go through any type of rehab. He’s 100 percent. It’s a normal winter for him. We saw flashes of some really good stuff during the season. He’s going to have to find ways to be consistent.

“Matt Cain doesn’t see himself as a five-inning pitcher. That’s not who he thinks he is. Even if he’s a six-inning guy, that’ll go a long way toward this team being very successful.”

Manager Bruce Bochy has high hopes, too.

“I expect him to come in camp probably in the best shape he’s ever been in,” Bochy said, “as determined as ever to win that spot in the rotation. This is his last year on this deal, and I’ve got to think he’s hungry to get back to who he was and be part of the rotation.”

Before the meetings, the Giants were linked to Martinez — who’ll make $11.75 million — as a possible left fielder, but the Giants have 62 million reasons after signing Melancon on Monday to open left field to internal options Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker.

Evans said Gorkys Hernandez and Austin Slater could also be in the competition. Over the winter, the Giants will be open-minded to adding an outfielder and relief depth — but only on the cheap, apparently.

“I don’t think there’s anything more to ask of ownership,” Evans said. “It’s more what I can do with what we have.”

John Shea is The San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer. Email: jshea@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnSheaHey