The difficulty of a transition season is that we've already been doing both at all times. Every game recapped, different components and players analyzed, 'what-if' scenarios considered: these aren't living in the moment but trying to make our immediate past anthologized. Yet because the Diamondbacks were clearly not going to compete for the postseason, every step came with the caveat of how this would change the future.
Trade for a player. Trade away another. Dump a top prospect to get shed a large contract. Get back a player you didn't think would have any positive value. How does this affect the team today?