Arias welcomes variety

Joaquin Arias doesn’t pack lightly. He has different gloves for shortstop, second base and third base, and also ordered a first baseman’s mitt.

Arias started at shortstop Thursday and Friday, going 3-for-7, and might play short Sunday when the Giants face lefty Clayton Richard, according to manager Bruce Bochy, who didn’t mind resting Brandon Crawford because of Crawford’s heavy workload.

Arias, 27, has played parts of four big-league seasons, mostly with the Rangers, and said of the National League, “It’s a little different. You get more chances to play than in the American League. I like it here.”

With Aubrey Huff on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder, Bochy said Arias is an option at first base. “I think he’d be fine over there,” Bochy said. “Now, I’m talking more double-switch or something like that.”

Brandon Belt and Brett Pill will get “more consistent time with Huff out. Hopefully they can take advantage of it,” Bochy said, and Buster Posey remains in the mix.

Bochy checked in with Huff and said he’s in “better spirits” and getting treatment locally. Bochy said Huff will continue working out and taking swings — he was spotted in the cage before Saturday’s game. Another chance: Reliever Steve Edlefsen arrived from Triple-a Fresno, taking the roster spot of Eric Hacker, who made a spot start Friday. It’s Edlefsen’s first taste of the majors since replacing Brian Wilson on the roster in August and struggling with a 9.53 ERA over 13 outings.

At Fresno, he had a 1.42 ERA in six outings.

“I got the initial shock of living a dream out of the way,” he said. “Once the initial shock is gone, you can relax. It’s more about being successful instead of taking in the bigleague atmosphere.”

Bochy said he’d use Edlefsen in and around the sixth inning, adding, “He’s going to help us. He complements our bullpen well with a different look. He can get a ground ball.”