Yankees and Angels have reshaped the baseball landscape

The Only Thing, the Yankees, Cannot Afford

That means that Cash cannot afford not to add pitchers. One part of that plan is now completed as he has re-signed the very valuable, mid-level pitcher CC Sabathia (one year, ten million).

But he has work to do if he wants the Yankees to be the last team standing next year. The Cubs, Dodgers, Red Sox, Indians, Nationals, Diamondbacks and Cardinals all seem capable of being that team. And let’s not forget the Astros, who don’t need to add anything.

Cashman would like to trade Ellsbury, but the signing of Sabathia might make a swap with Arizona cost prohibitive. It might also signal that the Rangers are about to complete a deal with the D’Backs.

However, Cash still needs another starting pitcher to create organizational depth. If he can make a deal for Gerrit Cole or another for-prospects-only pitcher, he might spend some on a veteran utility infielder.

But whatever he does now, he must get right. That’s what adding Stanton has done to the Yankees plans.

And all of this change is happening coincidentally to a number of teams going through their natural evolutions. The net result will see an almost complete shift of power for the 2018 season and beyond.