DALLAS Brian Cashman had envisioned Willy Adames playing third base and helping elevate the Yankees clubhouse culture, but he was handcuffed until he knew if the bulk of his offseason budget was going to Juan Soto. So, he could only watch with frustration as Adames signed last week. But once the Yankees learned that Soto was on Sunday, Cashman quickly pivoted, not wanting to lose another player of extreme interest. He let Max Frieds camp know that the lefty was the Yankees priority. There would, for example, be no offer for Corbin Burnes until the Yankees Jose Leclerc Jersey knew for sure if they could secure Fried or not. Max Fried is signing an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees. Brett Davis-Imagn Images On Tuesday, the Yankees got their man, reaching , completing what basically was a strong one-week courtship of the player. Frieds market included the Angels and Giants as dark horses, but the four main contenders were the Yankees, Blue Jays, Rangers and Red Sox. Those four teams held Zooms with Fried last week between Tuesday and Thursday. Explore More The Yankees turn was Tuesday, and they had nine members of the organization on the teleconference more than double anyone else. It included Cashman, Aaron Boone and pitching coach Matt Blake. But also special advisor Omar Minaya, who has history with Fried. Minaya was a senior VP of baseball operations with the Padres when they drafted Fried seventh overall in 2012. When this proce s began, Fried did not view the Yankees as his top choice, but the Zoom presentation began to change his thinking. He felt a good connection with Blake, appreciated the scope of the Yankee effort and liked how clear it was that the organization was prioritizing him. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman (c.) and Omar Minaya (l.) Jason Szenes for the NY Post The Fried camp told all of those involved that Fried wanted to have an agreement by no later than Wednesday of this week. And so negotiations intensified once Soto was off the board. Despite stated interest, the Blue Jays never made an offer. The Red Sox were at seven years and $190 million with a willingne s to perhaps go higher, but also a plan to include deferrals. When it became obvious that would not get it done, Boston pivoted hard to try to land White Sox ace Garrett Crochet in a trade, eventually relenting to include elite catching prospect Kyle Teel en route to finalizing a deal Wednesday. The Rangers, though, became huge contenders for Fried. They had begun the proce s not believing that they would be able to reach the financial stratosphere where Fried was heading. But after their Zoom meeting, Texas officials decided to stretch. Texas offered seven years at $190 million. Without a state income tax, the value of that contract was going to force the Yankees to do much better. In a post-Soto world in which they wanted to get on the board and move forward, the Yankees were aggre sive, again reiterating just how much Fried was their priority. They were at eight years and $210 million, with Fried wanting the eighth season. The Fried camp let the Yankees know that if they went to $218 million $1 million more than David Prices record for a lefty starter (a seven-year deal signed in 2015) that there would be no more shopping, that the Yankees would get Fried. Max Fried USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Cashman reconnected with Hal Steinbrenner for authorization and received approval to move forward. The deal, which was pending a physical that was tentatively scheduled for Thursday and a pre s conference probably on Friday, would include a $20 million signing bonus paid in two $10 million installments, one immediately and one next year. Fried will receive $12 million in both 2025 and 2026, and then $29 million annually over the final six seasons. The Yankees received the satisfaction of landing their top post-Soto preference. Lenny Randle Jersey