It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
The Giants were supposed to be in the thick of the playoff chase in the National League. After shunning a free agent market last winter mostly populated by expensive players on the wrong side of 30, the Giants doubled down on their plan — or process, if you prefer — of filling out their roster with inexpensive options while waiting for their trove of prospects to reach the majors.
It was a fine plan for a rebuilding team; after all, what sense would it make to dedicate years and payroll to free agents who’d likely be ineffective by the time those prospects were ready?