Joe Nathan returning to Giants

According to Schulman, the Giants aren’t ruling out a call-up before roster limits expand to 40 on Sept. 1.

Nathan, who has 377 career saves — eighth all time — returned from a second Tommy John surgery and signed with the Cubs but made just three appearances (no runs) before being designated for assignment in early August.

The Giants wouldn’t take a chance with Nathan if they didn’t believe he could improve their bullpen, which experienced a meltdown in Sunday’s loss to the Orioles.

The Giants drafted Nathan in the sixth round in 1995 as a shortstop, and he had a breakout season as a setup man in 2003, Felipe Alou’s first year as manager.

[...] the Giants unwisely chose to package him with pitchers Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser in a trade with the Twins, and all the Giants got in return was one year of catcher A.J. Pierzynski.