SARASOTA, Fla. — A few weeks ago, there were no competitions at Orioles spring training.

But injuries to Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez and Andrew Kittredge have opened up spots to fill on the Orioles’ opening day roster. Baltimore’s depth, one of the roster’s strengths, will be tested early in the regular season.

Assuming health the rest of the way, about 22 of the Orioles’ 26 roster spots are locked up. Filling the remaining four will be difficult, and the club hasn’t given many hints about how it will shake out.

“Keeping all options open right now,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Anything can happen here these last 10 days.”

With less than a week remaining in spring training and nine days until opening day, here is a reevaluation of the Orioles’ roster battles and the candidates competing for the coveted open roster spots.

Last infielder (if Henderson is out)

Candidates: Jorge Mateo, Livan Soto, Vimael Machín, Coby Mayo, Emmanuel Rivera, Luis Vazquez

This section assumes Henderson begins the season on the injured list. If the star shortstop heals up in time for opening day, Ramón Urías will serve as the “last infielder” in his usual role. But each day Henderson goes without ramping up to full baseball activities, the less likely it is that his ribs muscle strain heals in time.

Jorge Mateo would be the obvious choice if he weren’t also recovering from an injury. The speedster believes he can be ready for opening day, but Hyde has said that’s “doubtful.” That makes the most likely solution at shortstop to move Jackson Holliday over from second base, play Jordan Westburg and Urías at second and third base and roster an infielder for bench depth.

Livan Soto is probably the leader in the clubhouse for that spot. He spent a couple of stints with the Orioles last season, even playing well for a few games in mid-September. He can play shortstop, second and third, and he’s hit well this spring with a .412 average and .974 OPS.

If the Orioles want a left-handed hitter to come off the bench, Vimael Machín, this spring’s out-of-nowhere standout, could be the choice. He’s been perhaps Baltimore’s best hitter in camp with a .412 average and 1.047 OPS, and there are few things the Orioles have valued more during the Mike Elias-Brandon Hyde era than a left-handed hitting second baseman.

If the Orioles care most about defense at shortstop, they could keep Holliday at second base and choose Luis Vazquez. The Orioles acquired the 25-year-old this offseason in a cash trade from the Chicago Cubs, for whom he made his MLB debut in 2024. Vazquez was a glove-first prospect in Chicago’s farm system, and he’s been serviceable enough at the plate this spring (.242 average with a .633 OPS) to survive the first 10 days of the season with him in the lineup.

Baltimore also has third basemen Coby Mayo and Emmanuel Rivera as options, though it’s unlikely a corner infielder will be chosen given the hole Henderson leaves in the middle infield. Mayo has largely struggled at the plate this spring, but he is the club’s No. 2 prospect who is deserving of another shot in the big leagues. Rivera, a nonroster invitee, is the best hitter among this group but doesn’t fit in defensively with Westburg and Urías healthy.

No. 5 starter

Candidates: Cade Povich, Albert Suárez

This wasn’t supposed to even be a competition.

If Rodriguez hadn’t injured his elbow, he’d be the Orioles’ No. 2 starter, bumping down Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano and Dean Kremer to fill out the final three spots. But after Rodriguez received a cortisone shot in his elbow, forcing him to shut down and miss the beginning of the season, it opened a spot.

This competition would be 50% larger if Trevor Rogers weren’t also hurt, but the left-hander partially dislocated his kneecap in January and will be out to start the year.

Povich and Suárez are the two pitchers up for this job. Either way, Suárez will be on the opening day roster — as a starter or a reliever — because he is without minor league options. If Povich loses out, he will likely open the year in Triple-A Norfolk.

Povich, a lefty, might make the most sense because it gives the rotation more upside and bolsters the bullpen by moving Suárez there. However, Suárez was one of the Orioles’ most effective starting pitchers last season, and without Rodriguez, that group needs stability, too.

Right-handed reliever

Candidates: Bryan Baker, Matt Bowman

Like the No. 5 starter job, this wouldn’t be open if Kittredge hadn’t injured his knee and underwent arthroscopic surgery earlier this month, keeping him out until at least June.

Assuming closer Félix Bautista is deemed ready for the start of the season, the only guaranteed bullpen competition is for a right-handed reliever to fill in for Kittredge. Yennier Cano, Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto, Cionel Pérez and Keegan Akin appear to be locks to make the team, though Domínguez’s poor performance this spring could put him on shaky ground.

Bryan Baker and Matt Bowman appear to be the only options for this competition, and both are having good springs. Five of Baker’s six outings have been scoreless, while Bowman has given up only two runs in 6 2/3 innings while striking out 10.

Baker likely has the upper hand here because he’s on the 40-man roster and can’t be sent to Triple-A without having to pass through waivers first. Although Bowman, a nonroster invitee, could have an opt-out in his minor league deal with the Orioles, meaning he could leave if he’s not on the opening day roster.

Last bullpen spot (if Suárez wins No. 5 starter job)

Candidates: Roansy Contreras, Bryan Baker or Matt Bowman

If Suárez is the choice for the rotation and Povich begins the season in Triple-A, another spot opens up in the bullpen. If Povich is the choice, however, Suárez would occupy this role as a long reliever and spot starter.

The most likely scenario (if Suárez is in the rotation) is for Baker and Bowman to both make the team. While that would leave Baltimore’s bullpen without a traditional long man, Baker, Bowman and Keegan Akin would all be capable of pitching two innings. If a long reliever is preferred, Roansy Contreras could be the choice. Contreras, a reliever being stretched out to be a starting pitcher, is on Baltimore’s 40-man roster and, like Baker, is without minor league options.

It’s also possible the Orioles add at the end of camp to fill out their roster, either trading for a reliever about to be cut by another team or claiming them off waivers. In 2023, Baltimore acquired Danny Coulombe from the Minnesota Twins in a cash trade, and the left-handed became one of the club’s best relief pitchers that season.

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.