PHOENIX -- The D-backs made a pair of moves Sunday, but still have several moves to make before they have their 26-man roster set for Thursday’s Opening Day against the Rockies at Chase Field.

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Catcher Jose Herrera was optioned to Triple-A Reno, which leaves Gabriel Moreno and non-roster invitee Tucker Barnhart as the only catchers in camp. That would indicate that Barnhart will be Moreno’s backup, but he will need to be added to the 40-man roster, which is currently full, so the D-backs were not ready to officially announce that.

The other move the D-backs made was reassigning non-roster shortstop Kevin Newman to Minor League camp.

Newman had been signed during the offseason to compete for a backup infield spot.

With Newman out of the picture and outfielder Randal Grichuk likely to open the season on the injured list, it appears there are four players competing for three bench spots with outfielder Jake McCarthy and infielders Emmanuel Rivera, Jace Peterson and Blaze Alexander in the mix.

If Grichuk does indeed open the year on the injured list, it would seemingly give McCarthy a leg up to make the team because the D-backs would want to have a backup outfielder and McCarthy can play all three outfield positions.

Peterson has a guaranteed contract that will pay him $3 million this year, has had a good camp and has shown he can play shortstop if needed to back up Geraldo Perdomo. All of that may add up to giving him an edge for one of the spots as well.

Rivera is out of Minor League options, so the D-backs will likely lose him if they try to run him through waivers.

Alexander came up through the system as a shortstop, so of the group, he’s the best defender there. Like Peterson, he can play second and third as well. There was a thought that the D-backs would want him to play every day in the Minors rather than fill a bench role in the big leagues, but he’s swung a hot bat and played good defense all spring.

“As you get down to the end of camp these are never easy,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “They get harder.”

The pitching side of the roster still has to be determined as well, although the rotation seems to be rounding into shape after the injury to Eduardo Rodriguez.

That opened up a second spot in the rotation so the D-backs could carry both Tommy Henry and Ryne Nelson as starters while Rodriguez opens the year on the IL.

Bryce Jarvis is another starting candidate, but he is also intriguing in a relief role with the D-backs leaning towards carrying a long man early in the season.

If you assume that Paul Sewald, Kevin Ginkel, Ryan Thompson, Joe Mantiply, Scott McGough and Miguel Castro make the team and Jarvis is the long man, then the final spot would come down to lefty Kyle Nelson and right-hander Luis Frías.

Of course, those are all just assumptions, and even though there are only two games left before Opening Day, things could change.