The Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros became the first teams to blink Thursday during the non-waiver deadline trading season in Major League Baseball. The Athletics sent left-hander Scott Kazmir to the Astros for two prospects, right-hander Daniel Mengden and power-hitting catcher Jacob Nottingham. Kazmir, 31, is in the final season of a contract that will pay him the balance of $13 million this season. Here are five things to know about the deal and how it affects the league:

1. By pairing Kazmir with Dallas Keuchel at the top of the rotation, the Astros have one of the best 1-2 punches in Major League Baseball. Among the American League teams that would qualify for the playoffs right now, only the Yankees combo of Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda measures up to Kazmir and Keuchel. Kazmir overcame significant command issues and injury problems early in his career to become dependable; he's made 79 starts and counting over the past two-plus seasons -- as many as Clayton Kershaw or Zack Greinke. In that span, he's 27th in Fangraphs' wins above replacement for pitchers and 38th in ERA. Kazmir isn't new to the pennant race, either, having postseason experience with the Rays and Angels. The Astros were the surprise of baseball (at least until late in the first half, when they started to regress, and the Angels began to surge). But they'll be buoyed by the Kazmir deal. They already have one of the better bullpens in the majors. One of the areas that needed attention was the top of the rotation. Kazmir is about the best they could have done.

2. This trade not only opens up more deals for the Athletics, but should start the ball rolling on more trades across the league. Kazmir isn't the best pitcher expected to be on the trade market this non-waiver deadline season, though he's having a better season than one of the leading "rentals," right-hander Johnny Cueto of the Reds. Kazmir also is having a better season than the best pitcher thought to be available who is locked up long-term, lefty Cole Hamels of the Phillies. The price for Kazmir, minor-league prospects Daniel Mengden and Jacob Nottingham, helps to set the market for every other deal going forward. Now that someone has blinked, other teams have a better grasp on what the next deal might cost. Partly because they were so new to Houston's system, Mengden and Nottingham were not considered top prospects. But they are good ones, particularly Nottingham, a powerful catcher with a strong arm likened by some to Mike Napoli. It figures that a pitcher such as David Price of the Tigers would cost more, while others like Jeff Samardzija of the White Sox and Yovani Gallardo of the Rangers would cost less. But any of them could go imminently, or certainly by July 31.

3. The next deal could involve the A's, too. They figure to trade utilityman extraordinaire Ben Zobrist, and it would make sense for them to move closer Tyler Clippard, with free agency coming this offseason for both players. Outfielder Josh Reddick isn't a free agent until 2017, but he's having his best season and, while he's healthy, the A's could maximize his trade value now. Reddick moving could hurt the feelings of lots of A's fans, like the Josh Donaldson deal did before the 2015 season, but it's obvious the A's don't think this team is capable of a great run like other Oakland teams before it.

4. Kazmir has a great team of agents, because he just made a lot of money by getting traded. Let CBSSports.com's own Jon Heyman explain:

Hooray for contract riders and Texas tax laws! As for the "qualifying offer," this means that no compensation will be tied to Kazmir moving to another team, if he does, during free agency this offseason. The Astros won't get a draft pick for another team taking him, which means (in theory) that more teams will be willing to ante up more money to add Kazmir as a free agent. He also gained nine games in the standings, and returns to the city in which he was raised.

Kazmir gains nine games in the standings -- and other goodies -- by being traded.
Kazmir gains nine games in the standings -- and other goodies -- by being traded. (USATSI)

5. Barry Zito's still in the minors, hoping to make a comeback: Some speculated that Zito, who broke in with the Athletics in 2000 and won the AL Cy Young in 2002, would be called up to fill Kazmir's spot in the rotation. Zito has been attempting a comeback in the minors after he took off the 2014 season, and he has posted a 3.54 ERA in 20 starts at Triple-A Nashville. He pitched Wednesday night, however, and the A's instead called up another player, right-hander Arnold Leon, for a spot start. Further, A's manager Bob Melvin said that left-hander Drew Pomeranz would be returning to the rotation permanently. That doesn't mean we won't see Zito again, and perhaps we will soon, we just won't in the next few days. Unless, of course, the A's trade another starting pitcher (which appears unlikely).