TORONTO -- The Blue Jays got their man on Tuesday, reportedly reaching an agreement on the largest deal in club history with star free-agent outfielder George Springer.

The deal, which will be worth $150 million over six years when completed, immediately elevates the Blue Jays from a fringe postseason contender to a legitimate threat, while announcing to the rest of baseball that they mean business. The development years are over, and it’s officially time to win.

Moves of this magnitude send shockwaves through an organization and have a far-reaching impact on both its lineup and future offseason plans. The Blue Jays aren’t done, but after the biggest free-agent splash in their four-plus decades of existence, here’s what you need to know.

Why Springer and why now?
There’s a rare quality to Springer. Just like star quarterbacks in the NFL, star center fielders are one of baseball's most valuable commodities. The odd time one does become available on the open market, they rightfully command a very high price. The Blue Jays have long coveted that star center fielder, and while the right opportunity didn't present itself in 2018 or '19, this was too good to pass up.

For years now, the front office -- led by general manager Ross Atkins and president and CEO Mark Shapiro -- has said that when the time was right, they would make their move. The key, they believed, was timing it right. The Blue Jays wanted to have a strong foundation in place first so that their big move would be the one that moved them from 85 to 90 wins, for example, instead of 78 to 83. They believe this is that move.

Even with Springer signed, the Blue Jays will have plenty of payroll flexibility remaining, and plan to continue adding. The young core of Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, Nate Pearson and others are sure to get more expensive as Springer's deal ages, but that's all part of the plan. When this team wins, expect its spending to follow.

What does this mean for the outfield?
Teoscar Hernández, Randal Grichuk and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. made up the 2020 outfield, presenting the Blue Jays with a good problem. Hernández isn't going anywhere after a breakout season, and while Grichuk will be losing his starting spot in center, it could prove difficult to move the remaining three years on his deal. Gurriel has shown plenty of offensive potential and was a finalist for an American League Gold Glove Award last year, but the affordable contract that makes him so appealing to other clubs is the same reason he's valuable to Toronto.

The Blue Jays were also very interested in veteran outfielder Michael Brantley, who eventually agreed to terms on a two-year deal to return to the Astros, and it's clear they won't hesitate to add to a position of strength for the right talent. In that scenario, Toronto could draw from its outfield depth, catching prospect depth and pitching prospect depth in pursuit of a starting pitcher. While the free-agent market has limited high-end starters available, the trade market opens many more doors.

What does this mean for the young core?
The outfield puzzle will be closely tied to the designated hitter spot, which could have a direct impact on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He started at DH in 23 of his 60 games last season, and while he's expected to play in the field far more this season due to his improved conditioning, he'll still need some DH days along with Rowdy Tellez.

Biggio's days of moonlighting in the outfield may be over, too, given how many quality options the Blue Jays have. His flexibility is still extremely valuable to Toronto, though, because it allows the club to cast a wider net in its search to upgrade the infield. Yes, Guerrero has campaigned to return to third full time, but that's still very hard to envision. The organization could find a simple plug-and-play solution at third, but Biggio's ability to play the hot corner also allows them to consider middle infielders at second.

In the big picture, the Blue Jays are counting on these young players to win now. Yes, there will be development along the way, but that can't be as fundamentally blatant as it was at some points in 2020. Having Springer's lead to follow -- and his bat in the lineup -- will only help.

Where do the Blue Jays turn next?
Starting pitching. The Blue Jays will still add position players and bullpen pieces, even after their recent agreements with Tyler Chatwood and Kirby Yates, but a legitimate rotation upgrade would take this already improved roster to the next level.

Hyun Jin Ryu is the undisputed ace of the staff and Nate Pearson is the ace in waiting, but will Pearson dominate in 2021 or will there be speed bumps along the way? The Blue Jays would love to add to that top half of the rotation, potentially a No. 2 or No. 3 starter. Depth is great, but the organization has built that. Now, it's time for upside.

The Blue Jays will explore both trades and free agency, but keep the bigger picture of 2021 in mind. Carrying some payroll flexibility into the regular season may not be a bad thing and could give Toronto some buying power at the Trade Deadline. Clubs who push deep into the postseason have two, three or four starters who can win ballgames for them. The Blue Jays are getting there, but there are still moves to be made.