DALLAS ¨C The Yankees were impressed by Max Fried¡¯s mettle during a recent Zoom session with club officials, a lengthy virtual chat that increased their interest in a hurler who projects as a strong fit behind Gerrit Cole atop their rotation.

Fried was the first move in the Yankees¡¯ Plan B pivot after Juan Soto¡¯s decision to switch boroughs from the Bronx to Queens, agreeing late Tuesday to an eight-year, $218 million contract that will be the largest issued to a left-handed pitcher. The contract is pending a physical, with a formal announcement expected in the coming days.

¡°He¡¯s one of the game¡¯s really good pitchers,¡± manager Aaron Boone said on Wednesday, as the Winter Meetings concluded at the Hilton Anatole. ¡°He has a really good track record of success. He¡¯s a special talent.¡±

While Fried¡¯s addition bolsters a rotation that the Yankees already viewed as a strength, general manager Brian Cashman intends to continue improving the roster in the coming weeks. The Yanks have cast a wide net for additional talent, with multiple free agent targets and trade discussions continuing behind the scenes.

Later on Wednesday, the Yankees agreed to bring back right-hander Jonathan Loáisiga on a one-year contract with an option for the 2026 season, sources told MLB.com. The team has not yet confirmed the deal.

¡°It¡¯s about run prevention and run creation,¡± Cashman said. ¡°Our goal is always to try to collect as many of the best, talented baseball players that we can. Pitching is practically half your roster, so there¡¯s always needs there and you can never have enough.¡±

The Yankees presently have at least seven starting pitchers, including Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt, who have drawn trade interest. Cashman said the Yanks will be ¡°open-minded to all possibilities.¡±

Cashman said that they have prepared a presentation for Japanese free agent Roki Sasaki, who is expected to begin meeting with interested teams soon.

¡°[Sasaki is] a big arm with a big desire to be great,¡± Cashman said. ¡°His intent is to be one of the game¡¯s greatest pitchers on the planet. We certainly would love to participate in allowing that to happen.¡±

BIGGEST REMAINING NEEDS

Outfield: Now that Soto has agreed to a record-setting 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets, the Yankees plan to move American League MVP Aaron Judge back to right field, which Cashman said could open a lane for top prospect Jasson Dom¨ªnguez to win playing time in center field. Left field remains open, with Alex Verdugo now a free agent. The Yankees are among the clubs interested in trading for the Astros¡¯ Kyle Tucker and have long been connected to the Cubs¡¯ Cody Bellinger. Teoscar Hern¨¢ndez and Jurickson Profar, both free agents, are also on the radar.

First base: The Yanks did not receive much production from a traditional power position in 2024, something they¡¯ll look to correct in the new year. While rookie Ben Rice would be the leading in-house candidate, their free agent targets include Christian Walker, who turns 34 in March and has a track record of power and Gold Glove defense. At present, they have not been connected to Pete Alonso; Paul Goldschmidt and Carlos Santana are also notable choices on the free agent market.

Third base: While Boone said he would be ¡°more than comfortable¡± going into 2025 with Jazz Chisholm Jr. at the hot corner, the Yanks could also add a more experienced third baseman and shift Chisholm to second base. Alex Bregman, a free agent, boasts an enticing blend of thump and defense. Bregman¡¯s connection to the 2017 Astros would not stop the Yankees from pursuing him, a source told MLB.com. The Cardinals are openly shopping Nolan Arenado, but the veteran has a full no-trade clause and must approve any deal. Arenado¡¯s agent, Joel Wolfe, said on Tuesday that his client is looking for a winning situation.

Bullpen: The Bombers were tasked with rebuilding a relief crew that shifted on the fly last season, with Clay Holmes now across town hoping to crack the Mets¡¯ rotation, and Tim Hill and Tommy Kahnle still free agents following the Lo¨¢isiga deal. They did that in a big way, agreeing to trade veteran lefty Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin to the Brewers for 2-time All-Star closer Devin Williams, per a source. Williams and 2024 fill-in closer Luke Weaver are set to be a formidable late-inning tandem.

RULE 5 DRAFT

The Yankees selected outfielder Luis Durango from the Guardians in the Minor League phase of the 2024 Rule 5 Draft.

Durango, 21, has batted .253 (145-for-574) with 118 runs, 18 doubles, four triples, three homers, 47 RBIs, 68 walks and 87 stolen bases in 181 games over four seasons in the Cleveland organization (2021-24).

Additionally, the Yankees lost five players in the Minor League phase: the Reds selected left-hander Joel Valdez (first round), the Cardinals selected left-hander Oddanier Mosqueda (first round), the Braves selected right-hander Blane Abeyta (first round), the Pirates selected outfielder Joel Mendez (fifth round) and the Phillies selected right-hander Gabriel Barbosa (fifth round).

GM'S BOTTOM LINE

Cashman said that he had no regrets over how the Soto sweepstakes played out, with the Yanks¡¯ final offer standing at $760 million over 16 years, a figure that Cashman said went far beyond their comfort level. While retaining Soto was their top priority going into the winter, they recognized from Day 1 that there was a chance his Yankees tenure might only last a season.

Instead, the club now has a challenge and an opportunity to retool a roster that ended a 15-year World Series appearance drought this past October. Cashman said that managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner has not issued a firm payroll cap for ¡¯25, instead inviting any and all potential acquisitions to be brought to his desk.

¡°We want to improve the team and feel really good about it. I¡¯m not there yet,¡± Cashman said. ¡°There was a lot of waiting that took us up until the Winter Meetings on the Soto decision. Now we¡¯re going to continue doing what we always do. No retreat, no surrender. Just keep laser-focused on the task at hand, which is trying to find the best players you possibly can.¡±