The trade that sent Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to the Mets on Thursday sent shockwaves throughout the game.

? Mets deal for Lindor, Cookie in blockbuster

It had been widely expected that Lindor would be moved prior to the season, and although that saga has finally reached its conclusion, plenty of other dominos could now fall as a result of the move.

What¡¯s next for the Mets?

For most teams, a deal of this magnitude would likely stand as the major move of an offseason. For the Mets, it could be just the beginning.

New owner Steve Cohen demonstrated his commitment to winning by approving a deal for Lindor, who will command a huge nine-figure extension to keep him in New York for the foreseeable future. It¡¯s difficult to imagine the Mets not getting such a deal done, ensuring that the All-Star shortstop wears their uniform throughout this decade.

But aside from Lindor, the Mets remain in the mix for the top free agents on the market. George Springer is still a strong fit for the outfield (as is Jackie Bradley Jr.), while Trevor Bauer would slot in nicely with Jacob deGrom atop the rotation. A number of notable relievers remain available, too, any of whom would help solidify the bullpen.

GM Jared Porter noted Thursday that he will ¡°always be on the hunt for more pitching,¡± so rotation or bullpen upgrades would be no surprise.

¡°The market will dictate some of our decisions over the next few weeks,¡± Mets president Sandy Alderson said. ¡°We feel we¡¯ve made a major impact on the team. We¡¯re not perfect, so we will still be active talking in the marketplace. But I do think this moves us forward quite a bit. There¡¯s still some work to do.¡±

Adding Lindor to the lineup makes the Mets a dangerous team, but bringing in Springer would thrust them into the top echelon of National League contenders. Likewise with Bauer in the rotation, as a group led by deGrom, Bauer, Marcus Stroman and Carlos Carrasco -- with Noah Syndergaard due back from Tommy John surgery in June -- would arguably rival the Padres for the best rotation in the league.

How will the Mets¡¯ division rivals react?

The moment Cohen was approved as the Mets¡¯ new owner, the rest of the NL East was put on notice that New York would become a major player within not only the division, but the entire league.

We¡¯ve heard the Mets attached to nearly every prominent free agent this offseason, but prior to Thursday, the biggest moves the club had made involved the return of Stroman on a qualifying offer and the free-agent signings of James McCann and Trevor May. Now that the front office has pulled the trigger on a major trade and acquired Lindor, the Mets are leaders in the clubhouse for the most improved team of the winter.

Will their NL East rivals respond with notable moves of their own?

The Phillies remain engaged with J.T. Realmuto about bringing the All-Star catcher back to Philadelphia, while the Nationals are still primed to make a major signing or two.

The Braves have already bolstered their rotation with Charlie Morton and Drew Smyly this offseason, but Atlanta still needs to add a big bat to replace Marcell Ozuna, though Ozuna himself remains available and could wind up returning on a new deal.

The Marlins are unlikely to make any big free-agent signings, but with several teams looking to shed payroll, there could still be an opportunity to add talent via trade if Miami is willing to take on salary.

What about the Blue Jays and Yankees?

Toronto had seemingly been the club most often connected to Lindor, with some speculating that the Blue Jays might have more success pulling off a big trade than they¡¯re having attracting top free agents.

Well, Lindor is no longer available, and while there could still be four stellar shortstops available via free agency next offseason (or in the case of Trevor Story, possibly in a trade before then), the Blue Jays must now rely on the free-agent market in order to add talent.

Does Toronto get even more aggressive in its pursuit of DJ LeMahieu? For that matter, do the Yankees? There was a belief within the industry that a Lindor trade was the Yankees¡¯ Plan B if LeMahieu signs elsewhere, but that option is no longer in play. If any free agent benefits most from the Lindor trade, it appears to be LeMahieu.