Those who missed out on Juan Soto were expected to move on to top-notch pitching, and that seems to be the case.

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are rumored to be top contenders for left-handed pitcher Max Fried. MLB insider Robert Murray hinted Tuesday that there are other players in the mix, but ultimately believes it will come down to the Yankees and Red Sox.

“The Max Fried market is interesting to me,” Murray said on “The Baseball Insiders” podcast. “I’ve heard different timelines as to when a deal could potentially happen here, but I think the teams to keep an eye on are the teams on the East Coast. Look at the Yankees, the Red Sox, maybe the Orioles… even the Blue Jays.

“But if you look at his market, I suspect it could ultimately come down to the Yankees or Red Sox. Interest is high, I don’t think a deal is imminent at this point, but I know there are teams that really like him and it wouldn’t surprise me if we see some teams in the next few “We would make an advance in a few days.”

Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote on Sunday (before Soto’s reported deal) that Fried could find himself in a “nice bidding war” between the Red Sox and Yankees. Jon Heyman of the New York Post speculated that Fried could get a six-year deal worth $166 million.