Blue Jays seek counter to Boston's splash

The problem for Toronto and the rest of the AL East is that the Red Sox aren't done. The additions of Sandoval and Ramirez provide a lot more depth for the organization and set up the possibility of future trades for starting pitching. There's no guarantee it will work out, but there's little doubt that Boston looks a lot better today than it did a month ago on the heels of a last-place finish in the division.

On MLB Tonight, Alex Anthopoulos joins the show to discuss the Blue Jays' signing of Russell Martin and gives an outlook for the 2015 season

The signings will have a ripple effect throughout baseball both in terms of free agency and trades. Here's a closer look at what it could mean for the Blue Jays in particular:

Sandoval off the market: The Blue Jays expressed some interest in Sandoval earlier in the offseason, but there were never any real expectations that the two sides would be able to work out a deal. Toronto made it pretty clear that Martin had been its top target through free agency and everything else was put on the back burner until that agreement was finalized. General manager Alex Anthopoulos did meet with Sandoval's representatives at the recent General Managers Meetings, but it appears the Blue Jays' interest was overblown.

Toronto isn't believed to have made a formal proposal to Sandoval and when the 2012 World Series MVP sat down to make his decision, he was weighing offers from the Padres, Giants and Red Sox. In that sense, the Sandoval and Ramirez signings with Boston don't directly impact Toronto because the organization didn't take a strong run at either player. The Blue Jays still have a need for either a third baseman or second baseman and now that the top players are off the board, it might create some movement in the second tier of infielders that Toronto might consider.

Yankees pressed into action: New York has been insisting for the past several weeks that it would resist the urge to make a major splash in free agency. The question now is whether that stance will change after arch-rival Boston added a pair of prominent players to its roster. Reacting to another team's moves isn't always the best course of action but, when it comes to these two cities, nothing can be ruled out.

If the Yankees feel compelled to respond with a major move of their own, all bets are off this winter. New York could use an upgrade to its starting rotation and with Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields available through free agency, the only thing required to get a deal done is money. If the Yankees go on a spending spree of their own, then the task obviously gets even tougher for Toronto.

Rays could continue to sell: The more competitive the AL East becomes the more likely it is that the Rays will decide to completely rebuild. That process is already partially underway following the departure of general manager Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon, but more moves could be in store for an organization that has plenty of young talent but could be a couple of years away from contending.

The one name Toronto should watch out for is Ben Zobrist, who is about to enter the final year of his contract. Zobrist would be an ideal fit for the Blue Jays at second base, but even if Tampa Bay declines to deal him within the division, at the very least it further dilutes the market for middle infielders. If Zobrist goes on the block, it could also impact the market for free agents like Asdrubal Cabrera and Jed Lowrie and second basemen like Howie Kendrick and Chase Utley, who could be available through trades.

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Blue Jays seek counter to Boston's splash