DALLAS – The Yankees are open to deals with money to spend, moving away from their pursuit of Juan Soto to sign Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract on Tuesday night, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The team has not confirmed the agreement.

The pact, which is still pending, would be the largest ever given to a left-handed pitcher and the fourth-largest deal of any pitcher, behind the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (10 years, $700 million) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12 years). , $325 million) and Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (nine years, $324 million).

According to Feinsand, Fried’s deal will include a full no-trade clause and no payment deferral.

Fried, who turns 31 in January, is considered a formidable No. 2 prospect who could end up behind Cole in a postseason rotation. Despite posting a 5.10 ERA in 20 postseason games (12 starts), Fried delivered a six-inning gem against the Astros in the deciding Game 6 of the 2021 World Series.

The Blue Jays, Rangers and Red Sox were also known to be pursuing Fried; On Tuesday afternoon, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman canceled a scheduled appearance on MLB Network, an indication that the bidding had intensified.

According to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, Fried received a seven-year offer from at least one team. The Yankees held a Zoom call with Fried (plus a separate session with free-agent right-hander Corbin Burnes) while waiting for a response from Soto, who signed a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract on Sunday agreed with the Mets.

Last season with the Braves, Fried pitched 11-10 and had a 3.25 ERA in 29 starts, allowing 146 hits and 57 walks over 174 1/3 innings and 166 strikeouts. He tied for the MLB lead with two complete games and a shutout.

A two-time All-Star (’22, ’24) and three-time Gold Glove Award winner, Fried has battled some injuries over the years (his career-best innings total is 185 1/3 in 2022), but in 1924 he was mostly healthy.

Fried, the seventh overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, is a Southern California native who has compiled a career record of 73-36 with a 3.07 ERA in 168 major league games (151 starts), all with the Braves from 2017-24.

Fried, who relies heavily on command and spin, has been particularly effective since 2020, posting a 2.81 ERA – the lowest in the MLB among pitchers with at least 500 innings in that span (Burnes is second at 2.88). Place). Fried declined a qualifying offer from the Braves, meaning there is draft compensation associated with the signing.

The deal comes two years after the Yankees signed left-hander Carlos Rodón to a six-year, $162 million contract in which they expected him to solidify the top of the rotation behind Cole.

Rodón struggled with injuries in his first season but had better results last year, posting a 19-17 record and a 4.74 ERA in his first 46 starts as a Yankee.

With the acquisition of Fried, the Bombers’ rotation currently consists of Cole, Fried, Rodón, AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman.

It’s possible the Yankees will now explore deals with Cortes, who is arbitration-eligible after making $3.95 million last season.

A deal with Stroman would be another possibility; Owed $18 million for 2025, he was moved to the bullpen in September and did not appear in the postseason.

With Soto no longer on the field and Fried now in the fold, the Yankees have more to do this offseason as club bosses target infielders, outfielders and pitchers.

Manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that he is “more than comfortable” with Jazz Chisholm Jr. at third base unless the club brings in an experienced option; The Cardinals are acquiring Nolan Arenado and could be a fit. Agent Joel Wolfe said Tuesday that Arenado, 33, could waive his no-trade clause to agree to a deal with a competitor.

Free agent Alex Bregman is another skilled outfielder option for the hot corner, while the Yankees have expressed interest in free agent first baseman Christian Walker and outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Additionally, they have contacted the Cubs regarding outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger.

With Clay Holmes traded to the Mets and Tim Hill, Tommy Kahnle and Jonathan Loáisiga among the Yanks’ free agents, Cashman must work to rebuild a bullpen that changed on the fly during the ’24 season.

A key target is left-hander Tanner Scott, who could take over the closer role while moving Luke Weaver into the leadoff role. Boone said he was an interested observer in the team suite at the Hilton Anatole, where executives brainstormed ideas and thwarted dead ends.

“There are a lot of conversations going on,” Boone said. “There’s more than one way to build a team.”