Giants send Nate Furman down to Sacramento

The Phillies will be mixing things all up to accommodate Arraez, with Bryson Stott moving to third, Alec Bohm going to first and Bryce Harper returning to the outfield for the first time since elbow surgery. It’s probably worth it to add Arraez to the lineup, though it would have been cheaper in prospect cost just to add an outfielder and keep the infield as it was. Arraez, a free agent at season’s end, should get a little value boost in Philly, though the ballpark upgrade probably doesn’t make much of a difference here like it would with a more traditional power hitter. The Giants will give Nate Furman and Osleivis Barabe looks at second base for now.

Furman will have a chance to make his MLB debut after spending four seasons in the minors. The 25-year-old has forged a .770 OPS with seven homers and 18 stolen bases in Sacramento prior to the promotion. It seems likely that Furman will just be a bench bat while he’s with the team as the replacement for Jesús Rodriguez, with Rodriguez hitting the shelf in a corresponding move due to elbow bursitis.

A middle infielder in college, Furman, 23, has played second base and third base for Cleveland since being their fourth-round pick back in 2022. He suffered a strained right shoulder in June and was put on the minor league 60-day IL back in July, but he was enjoying a breakout season before that, posting a .338/.417/.500 slash line in 176 plate appearances at High-A before being promoted to Double-A and landing on the IL after just 13 games. Furman is 47-for-54 in stolen base attempts during his pro career and has shown great plate discipline with a 13.6 percent walk rate against a 13.9 percent strikeout rate. He profiles as to be a top-of-the-lineup bat who could really blossom if he can add more power to his game this season.