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Chain reaction: Assessing the impact of the Cole trade

Justin Berl / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Houston Astros, coming off of a 101-win campaign that was punctuated with the franchise's first World Series title, added Gerrit Cole to their already-deep starting rotation Saturday. While that likely makes them favorites to repeat, it also carries with it league-wide implications - within the Astros' division, within the Pittsburgh Pirates' division, and, potentially, leaving a shuffle for the American League wild card.

Let's break it down:

Yankees miss out

The New York Yankees were rumored to be the most heavily invested suitor to lure Cole away from the Pirates. And, even if their interest waned just before the deal officially transpired, the club was still rumored to have offered Clint Frazier as part of the package to improve their starting rotation.

A report has surfaced that suggests the Yankees could pivot toward free agent Yu Darvish, but if staying under the luxury tax is truly top of mind, adding the top starter on the market may not be the best use of resources.

While heading into the 2018 season with Jordan Montgomery or Adam Warren as their fifth starter isn't ideal, rolling with a rotation that already boasts Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Severino, Sonny Gray, and CC Sabathia could be much worse.

The Yankees are facing more pressing issues at the moment. Beginning the season with two rookies in Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres when the Yankees are expected to contend is worrisome, particularly with a rookie manager, Aaron Boone, at the helm.

Circling back toward Todd Frazier - who has expressed his desire to return - and going with the rotation as is could make more sense now that Cole is officially out of their grasp.

Cubs still looking for starter

One team with a more glaring need for starting pitching - and no absences around the diamond - is the Chicago Cubs, who were rumored to have jumped into the fray to acquire Cole.

While dealing within the division may have precluded a deal from actually happening, the Cubs are still looking to fill a gap in their rotation left by free agent Jake Arrieta.

Of course, there remains the possibility that Arrieta himself fills that hole, as the 31-year-old remains unsigned. However, signing Arrieta could prevent the Cubs from investing in Bryce Harper next offseason, and teaming him up with fellow young superstar and friend, Kris Bryant, which seems like it could be part of the club's long-term agenda.

Filling the final spot in the rotation behind Jon Lester, Jose Quintana, Kyle Hendricks, and Tyler Chatwood is still likely a priority for the Cubs' front office, though plenty of free-agent options still remain - most of whom will likely cost less than Arrieta.

Brewers window widens

The Milwaukee Brewers finished 2017 with one less win than the Colorado Rockies, barely missing the National League's second wild-card spot.

Granted, the Rockies ended up losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Brewers would likely have faced the same fate having just lost Jimmy Nelson to injury. However, with the Pirates pivoting the rebuild, and the Cincinnati Reds likely to lose another 90 games this year, the Brewers may have an opening this upcoming season if they invest in the team.

While adding pitchers Jhoulys Chacin and Yovani Gallardo likely fit Milwaukee's long-term plans better than breaking the bank for an ace, this offseason might be the time for the Brewers to make a move.

The Brewers had the lowest payroll in all of baseball last year, and are projected to owe less than $70 million in payroll this upcoming season. A slow-to-develop market might mean that the Brewers could make some additions without spending in a manner that would be out of character.

Sure, the St. Louis Cardinals will be as pesky as ever after adding Marcell Ozuna, but the wild card seems within the Brewers' grasp, and remaining idle would be a waste of an opportunity.

AL wild card heats up

While the Los Angeles Angels added this winter's most sought-after free agent in Shohei Ohtani, the incumbent Astros are still the favorites to claim the AL West division title.

According to FanGraphs' projected standings for the upcoming season, both the Astros and Cleveland Indians are expected to repeat as division winners, with the Boston Red Sox and Yankees in a dead heat for the top of the AL East. If the 2018 season goes the way it is expected to, then, four of the five postseason spots are spoken for, with the surging Angels the prime candidate for the fifth.

That leaves the Minnesota Twins, who snuck into the second AL wild-card spot last year and added Addison Reed on Saturday, on the outside looking in.

The Twins aren't the only casualty in the AL arms race though, as the Seattle Mariners - who share a division with the Astros and Angels - are expected to lengthen their postseason drought, which already sits at 16 years.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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