SAN DIEGO — Only one team could sign Gerrit Cole and the Yankees gave him $324 million to make sure it was them.

So what does that mean for everyone else?

Dodgers: The West Coast Yankees continue to talk about doing a mega-deal, but seem chilled by the illogic of it all. They were slugging it out for Cole until the end, but the ace favored the Yankees. With the rest of the prices for starting pitchers being dragged up now — don’t be surprised if Madison Bumgarner tops five years at $100 million or Hyun-jin Ryu exceeds four years at $80 million — the Dodgers will consider that duo, but are probably now more likely to pivot to a significant bat.

That could be free-agent third basemen Anthony Rendon (The Rangers are still the favorites there) or Josh Donaldson. But the Dodgers’ farm system is deep enough, their financial flexibility great enough and their resolve to impact the top of their roster strong enough that they will be in the middle of it if any of the following actually move: Boston’s Mookie Betts, Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor, Houston’s Carlos Correa or Colorado’s Nolan Arenado. Of all of these, the Dodgers are most closely associated with Lindor, according to a source.

Angels: They had the Pacific Ocean to offer Orange County’s Cole, but not assurances they will be persistent contenders. So they fell short of the ace they craved. Owner Arte Moreno was personally involved in the Cole talks. He wants to better support Mike Trout and end a streak of four straight losing seasons, and the pitching return by Shohei Ohtani after Tommy John surgery and the eventual promotion of star prospect Jo Adell is not enough.

Thus, the Angels muscled up to sign Anthony Rendon to a seven-year, $245 million contract. The $35 million average is the second highest for a position player ever behind one player — his new teammate Mike Trout ($35.54 million). They still need pitching and have interest in Cleveland’s Corey Kluber.

Red Sox: Boston probably knew it wasn’t better for 2020 than the Yankees, maybe not the Rays either. Then Cole showed up in the AL East. Does that make it easier to sell to New England a financial teardown (that the owners want) that could include trading Betts? Probably not. But it is where they are likely heading. They will hope the free agent cost of pitching makes David Price’s three years at $96 million more appealing, perhaps the three years at $51 million of Nathan Eovaldi, too. Trading most of that would allow them to hold Betts, see if they are contenders in July and decide then whether to trade their biggest star.

On MLB Network last week I suggested a trade of Price for Wil Myers (three years at $61 million), plus two good but not great prospects, which would save more than $17 million toward the luxury-tax payroll (when Red Sox ownership wants to get under the $208 million threshold) and begin deepening the prospect base.

Astros: They checked in late to get a feel for what it would take to retain Cole. But the reality is they currently project over the $208 million threshold, where owner Jim Crane does not want to be. Plus, George Springer is in his walk year and Houston wants to retain him. That is why Correa’s name is being discussed. Even without Cole, the Astros are AL West favorites. But a Cole-less rotation is now a 37-year-old Justin Verlander, 36-year-old Zack Greinke, Lance McCullers returning from Tommy John surgery and young, unproven assets. Plus, they have what is coming from the sign-stealing investigation looming over the organization.

Mets: With where the price for pitching has gone, the Mets’ five-year, $137.5 million extension for Jacob deGrom signed last year and in effect beginning in 2020 looks great, as does the acquisition of Marcus Stroman and retention of Noah Syndergaard. Stroman and Syndergaard — in the worst-case scenario — gives the Mets high-end pieces to sell in July. But forget the worst scenarios. This trio plus Steven Matz on good contracts give the Mets a huge advantage. But only if they spend elsewhere to augment the team. And so far they are mostly sitting out the market.