There's a whole regime full of current and former Giants employees who must regularly ask themselves a painful question: "What if the Mark Melancon contract had worked out differently?"
Ironically, the team's new executives might have been wondering the same thing as they watched the Braves reach the NLCS.
Melancon looked like his old self in the fourth and final year of a massive deal signed after the Giants collapsed in the 2016 postseason, saving 11 games with a 2.78 ERA in the regular season and allowing just two hits and no earned runs in seven playoff appearances. His cutter was up to 93-94 mph and his curve was a weapon. He was, in many ways, exactly what the 2020 Giants needed.
There's no reason to regret that 2019 trade. The Giants saved nearly $20 million and got a good pitching prospect -- Tristan Beck -- back in return. But a year later, they found themselves making a surprise run, one that ultimately was derailed in large part by a lack of dependable right-handed pitching at the back end of their bullpen.
They won't go the Melancon route again this offseason, but Farhan Zaidi has said he wants to add to the bullpen.
"We'll look to maybe add a veteran to that mix and create some leadership for that group down there even though I think they've come together really well," Zaidi said after the season.
Here are six right-handed free agents who could be a fit for that role.