SAN FRANCISCO — When the Giants made the decision to sign Jeff Samardzija in December, 2015, the organization forfeited the rights to the No. 18 pick in the 2016 MLB Draft.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but it doesn’t take perfect vision to see how the Giants could have benefitted from prioritizing their farm system.
After watching veterans like Matt Cain and Jake Peavy break down, the Giants tried to extend their championship window with the additions of Samardzija and Johnny Cueto and took a calculated gamble by surrendering a coveted draft pick. A front office led by Bobby Evans had even-year magic on its mind, and without homegrown talents ready to step into the rotation, the Giants waved the free agency wand.