NEW YORK — With Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman preaching the virtues of patience in the Yankees’ offices, club officials are trying not to sweat as they wait out the negotiations involving starting pitchers CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe.

In the meantime, the Yankees will continue to hold internal discussions centering on backup plans. If they can’t make big upgrades to their pitching, they’ll try to improve their offense instead, with Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramirez [stats] the obvious targets.