LAKELAND, Fla. -- Most of the Marlins' bullpen is set, but the evaluation process continues for a few candidates who are on the bubble. The main qualification is being able to pitch multiple innings.
Manager Don Mattingly outlined what the organization is looking for, and there really isn't room for a specialist of any kind.
"The biggest position we're looking for is that bridge guy," Mattingly said on Saturday morning.
Nick Wittgren, Brian Ellington and lefty Hunter Cervenka are the frontrunners for one spot. Each has been asked to go more than one inning in recent days.
The Marlins are leaning strongly on carrying eight relievers, with six of them already set. A.J. Ramos is the closer. David Phelps, Brad Ziegler, Junichi Tazawa and Kyle Barraclough round out the setup roles. They mainly will go one inning, with Phelps the likely choice to go beyond that on occasion.
Dustin McGowan is a middle-innings candidate who can pitch multiple frames.
With Jeff Locke (left biceps inflammation) expected to open the season on the disabled list, the Marlins are looking at Jose Urena as one long reliever who can be a spot starter.

"If you look at our bullpen with Ramos, Phelps, Barraclough, Ziegler, and Tazawa, you know what you're getting there," Mattingly said. "Those aren't your true bridge guys. If it's early, you've got McGowan and whoever else it ends up being. Those guys there, we need those guys to be multiple-innings guys. If not, you end up beating everybody up.
"We're looking for three multiple-inning guys out of those long guys."
If Cervenka makes the club, he would be the lone left-hander in the 'pen. But he wouldn't necessarily be a specialist.
"I don't think we can afford lefty specialists with what we're trying to do," Mattingly said. "We need somebody that can get righties and lefties out, is durable, bounces back and can throw multiple innings, and a day later can still do something. All those guys we think fit into that role, we're thinking about 50-60 pitches."
Worth noting
• Martin Prado (strained right hamstring) was scheduled to have his MRI on Saturday. The 33-year-old third baseman pulled up lame on Wednesday while playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
• Dan Straily became the first Miami pitcher to take at-bats in a Grapefruit League game on Saturday. Until this point, the club has been going with a designated hitter. But from this point forward, all starting pitchers will hit and ideally get two at-bats.