PHILADELPHIA — The San Francisco Giants believe catcher Buster Posey could become a franchise icon, a perennial All-Star and one of the game’s best all-around players.

For starters, though, his duties will involve double-switches and pinch-hitting appearances — every menial task but cleaning spikes.
The Giants reversed course on earlier pronouncements, purchasing Posey’s contract along with that of left-hander Dan Runzler from Triple-A Fresno. The two players caught a flight from Las Vegas at dawn and were in uniform Wednesday.
With Bengie Molina missing his eighth consecutive start because of a strained right quadriceps, the Giants decided they needed more coverage behind the plate.
“Buster is the best catcher in our system,” Manager Bruce Bochy said. “The last thing we want to do is put (Ryan) Garko or (Pablo) Sandoval back there.”
Bochy said he could pinch run for Molina more often and wouldn’t hesitate to rely on Posey’s glove when it’s close and late. The manager didn’t rule out Posey starting a game, either, but said, “(If) Bengie is healthy and doing well, he’s the guy who will be behind the plate.”
Molina, whose absence has frustrated club officials, repeated his vow to return on Thursday.
Were the Giants sending him a message?
“You know what, probably,” said Molina, who is a free agent after the season. “This might mean I’m not coming back next year. Who knows? I’m ready for anything. I know how baseball goes.
“The only thing I can say is I’ve got my chin up always. I’ve done a lot for this team and helped many guys. I hold my ground. I’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. If they don’t bring me back, hey, you have to move on.
“Regarding any messages, I don’t know. If that’s what they’re trying to do, I don’t think that’s the way to send a message. But if they are, who knows. We’ll see.”
—Posey was pulled from Fresno’s lineup shortly before the first pitch in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. He and Runzler received the news in the second inning.
“I wasn’t necessarily expecting it. I knew it was a possibility,” said Posey, who hit .325 with 18 home runs between Class-A San Jose and Fresno. “I’m just excited to be here. I couldn’t be happier to be on a team fighting for a playoff spot.”
—To clear 40-man roster space, the Giants designated pitchers Jesse English and Ryan Sadowski for assignment.
—Runzler impressively skipped from Low-A Augusta to San Jose to Double-A Connecticut to Fresno to the majors all in one season. An ninth-round pick out of UC-Riverside in 2007, he had a 0.76 ERA in 47 games, striking out 83 in 59 innings, and credited Augusta pitching coach Steve Kline with overhauling his mental approach.