Cashman: 'If I left I was not going to like story that was going to be written'

"I don't necessarily see that this has gone awry," Cashman said. "Because of some of the work we've already done, we are in a better position than we had been.

"I do believe that we have a much stronger farm system today and because of that a much brighter future," he added. "The focus has been we've got to get back to rebuilding this thing and getting younger -- because an extended period of darkness would befall us, essentially. That was my opinion."

New York is expected to make a strong push for several stars who can become free agents, including lefty CC Sabathia. First baseman Mark Teixeira and pitchers Ben Sheets, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe could be targets, too.

Sabathia, who pitched Milwaukee into the playoffs after a July 7 trade from Cleveland, is thought to prefer playing closer to home in California and staying in the National League.

"I would not have high expectations on certain guys," Cashman said. "Just because you put them on the top of your list doesn't mean you're the top of their list."

The free-spending Yankees could have nearly $90 million in salaries coming off the books. Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu and Ivan Rodriguez are unsigned for next season. Center field and first base are uncertain.

Like many GMs, Cashman has a mixed record. Among his best moves this decade: signing Mussina, trading for Abreu, drafting Joba Chamberlain, promoting Chien-Ming Wang and Robinson Cano from the minors. Among the busts: signing Kei Igawa, Jaret Wright and Carl Pavano, trading for Jeff Weaver and Kevin Brown.

"We just have to make better decisions, I guess," Cashman said. "You need to be right more than you're wrong."

Notes

• Cashman said he thought Mariano Rivera's surgery would be Monday to alleviate a buildup of calcium in the closer's pitching shoulder.
• Cashman said the Igawa mistake has led the Yankees to change their approach to scouting in Japan.