A big star leaves for Seattle and his old team is left in shambles. That storyline is currently taking place in the Bronx as the New York Yankees lost their most valuable player in Robinson Cano to free agency. But a different ending looks be avoided in Eugene, Ore. with the Oregon Track Club. 

World Champion silver medalist Nick Symmonds has decided to sign with Brooks Running on a contract that will sponsor him through the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro. He will be leaving coach Mark Rowland and his Nike training group for coach Danny Mackey and the Brooks Beasts. 

Many would argue that Symmonds was the face of the Oregon Track Club and now there are a pair of Nike shoes to fill in the absence of a vocal leader. 

Flotrack site head Ryan Fenton would be fast to pick 2012 Olympic semifinalist Andrew Wheating. At just 26-years-old, Wheating still has time to lower his personal best in the 1,500-meter run where he ran 3:30.90 at the 2010 Monaco Diamond League meet. Every year since, he's run a bit slower, but coming into a year after he failed to make the U.S. World Championship team, Wheating could be more motivated than ever. 

Nike already uses Wheating as one of their poster boys in stores. He’s got the charisma and character to easily take the helm as the team’s star.

Jordan McNamara may be another candidate for that role after a summer in which he set a personal best of 3:34.00 in the magical Oordegem 1,500-meter race. He went on to win the 1,500-meter race in Heusden, finish second in Lignano and beat U.S. 1,500-meter champion Matt Centrowitz in the London Diamond League mile.

Note: He’s got character flare as well with his celebratory dance moves and an Instagram account, professional photographers can take a few notes from.

“I’ve been doing workouts indicative of this fitness all spring, but I just couldn’t get my legs right on race day,” McNamara said after his personal best in London. “I’m just so thankful to have my hard work show, because I worked so hard this winter and this spring and I really wanted to reap the rewards of it.”

McNamara used the European track circuit to proved that he can run with anyone. He earned his respect going into 2014 and could be seen in more big stage races like Diamond League meetings. 

Much like McNamara, Tyler Mulder used this summer to make a splash on the international circuit. He ran a personal best of 1:44.34 in Monaco and followed up with a 1:44.72 in London. In June, he was less than a second away from making the U.S. World Championship roster, but that did not dismotivate him in Europe. If there was anyone pushing Symmonds in practice, it was most likely the Iowa native. (Evidence: Workout Wedneday from July)

Looking back on his summer and the outlook for 2014, Mulder believes a performance in the 1:43-range is within his reach. His consistency is there. The search for confidence to take control in big races is next on the checklist.

Elijah Greer will be right there with him in 2014 workouts. The 2012 NCAA Outdoor 800-meter Champion went on to set a personal best of 1:45.04 when he finished 4th at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championship’s 800-meter final. He then rubbed shoulders with professionals in the London Diamond League meet, where he ran 1:45.96 and placed 11th. At just 23-years-old, time is on Greer’s side with the Oregon Track Club.

The Yankees responded to Robinson Cano’s departure by using their money and signing Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran. Unfortunately, Track and field isn’t a sport where millions of dollars can be thrown around as a reaction.

The Oregon Track Club may not add another star to their roster in the immediate future, but they will go into 2014 with athletes that have the potential to fill that void left by Symmonds.

Chris Chavez is a staff writer for Flotrack and a journalism major at Marquette University. He once beat Joey Fatone of NSYNC in a half-marathon. Feel free to to reach him with any questions, comments, or feedback on Twitter or by email.