PEORIA, Ariz. -- There are now less than three weeks until the Mariners host the Giants for Opening Day, when 9,000 fans will be welcomed back to T-Mobile Park. But at the club’s Spring Training complex, roster battles will only heat up more from here.

Seattle has some sound clarity across its depth chart, but there are a few notable areas where the scope of who might break camp isn’t as apparent. Below are three areas where position battles remain in question:

1. Left field

Candidates: Taylor Trammell, Jake Fraley, Braden Bishop, José Marmolejos

The job: The starting job in left field is up for the taking, particularly with No. 1 prospect Jarred Kelenic recovering from an adductor injury that essentially eliminated his chance of breaking camp with the Major League club.

The situation: Fraley entered camp as the favorite, with Bishop and Marmolejos on the outside looking in. But Trammell has firmly entrenched himself in the conversation, if not becoming the favorite. Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto confirmed as much when doing his weekly radio hit with 710 ESPN Seattle. Trammell entered Friday hitting .313/.389/.688 with a homer and three doubles in eight Cactus League games, and he’s seen increasing playing time.

Fraley isn’t completely out of the picture -- there are still 16 Cactus League games left after Friday’s game against the Reds -- and he did have a big night in Thursday’s 4-4 tie against the Dodgers, including a 446-foot home run. Bishop is the best of them all defensively, but he hasn’t gotten as much Cactus playing time.

2. Final five spots in bullpen

Candidates: Roenis Elías, Casey Sadler, Erik Swanson, Yohan Ramirez, Anthony Misiewicz, Will Vest, Joey Gerber, Wyatt Mills

The job: The Mariners have their highest-leverage innings earmarked for offseason acquisitions Rafael Montero, Keynan Middleton and Kendall Graveman. Beyond those, they have eight arms vying for the additional five spots in the bullpen that will round out their eight-man unit. These will be bridge innings, but given that starting pitching will be a key concern for every MLB club ramping back up from the shortened season, relief reinforcements will be vital.

The situation: Things got more complicated when Elías, who was pitching his way into a lock for one of the gigs, exited Thursday’s outing with throwing arm discomfort. Domingo Tapia’s status for Opening Day is in question due to the oblique strain he sustained last Friday.

Vest, a Rule 5 Draft pick, is on the outside looking in, but he’ll need to be included on the 26-man roster or the Mariners would risk having to send him back to the Tigers. Swanson has long-man capability, which could be valuable. Sadler is a name that manager Scott Servais has mentioned as an early standout. Ramirez and Misiewicz are coming off strong showings in 2020, so they’re probably favorites.

As is the case every year with the bullpen, things won’t come into clearer scope until the final two weeks of camp.

3. The shortened bench

Candidates: José Marmolejos, Sam Haggerty, Shed Long Jr., Jake Fraley

The job: Because Seattle is going to a 14-man pitching staff -- six starters, eight relievers -- that leaves just two bench roles open when considering that backup catcher Luis Torrens will occupy a roster spot.

The situation: Versatility is huge -- that’s what gives Haggerty a leg up on landing the utility role after Dylan Moore took over full-time at second base. Haggerty runs the bases well and has a tendency to make things happen when he’s on the field. As Servais said, “even though [Haggerty] might be one of the smallest guys on the field, that’s how he's been able to get to the position he's in -- he's got that constant fire.”

Marmolejos likely has an edge here since he can play left field and first base, both of which have question marks. If Evan White struggles or needs a day off, Marmolejos would be left-handed-hitting insurance. But Marmolejos’ bat also showed some question marks in his debut in 2020, when he went 2-for-29 against breaking balls with no extra-base hits.

Long would’ve received strong consideration here since he has MLB experience at second base and left field -- and he still could down the road. But his surgically repaired right shin has kept him from playing in Cactus League games. Fraley is a big outsider looking in if he doesn’t land the starting left field gig because he would be limited to the outfield and DH.