SAN DIEGO — After an unusually quiet winter, the Giants spent the first days of spring training as one of the leading suitors for free agent slugger Bryce Harper.
The team’s pursuit of Harper didn’t appear to mesh with the otherwise understated offseason approach, but the power-hitting outfielder wasn’t a typical free agent.
At 26 years old, Harper was one of the youngest superstars to ever hit free agency. Even if the Giants understood they would have trouble competing in the near future, they viewed Harper as the type of hitter who would still be in his prime when the club was prepared to battle for its next division title.