NEW YORK — With money to burn and a burning desire to right the wrongs of 2008, Friday's no-holds-barred free agent season can't arrive soon enough for the Yankees — whose starting pitching needs are best addressed through cash transactions.

"Everything has a price. We understand free agency. We're going to go after what we need," co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner said Tuesday, promising an aggressive pursuit of the market.

"The goal ... is balance. Young players built from within and veteran mentors. It's got to be that way," Steinbrenner said.

In other words, CC Sabathia's free agent decision could be a choice between California comfort and an avalanche of Yankees millions. If Sabathia or A.J. Burnett are not swayed, the Yankees could turn to Ben Sheets or Derek Lowe.

There's an order of preference, and "we're going to be ready for Friday," said Steinbrenner, who met with general manager Brian Cashman on Monday and Tuesday.

"We have specific targets," Cashman said by phone Tuesday. And though the GM has expressed reluctance in the recent past to rely heavily on free agents, "(free agency) is a vehicle to sustain (playoff-caliber clubs) and I've done it in the past to help win championships.

"There's times when you have to go to the market, and there's times you don't."

This is clearly one of those times. Only Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain have been identified as part of the 2009 starting rotation.

The Yankees are operating as if Mike Mussina has retired, though he's yet to officially declare. If Andy Pettitte returns, it would be at a pay cut from the $16 million he earned last season; Steinbrenner said negotiations with the lefty have not started, though he expects there will be a sit-down soon.

Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Alfredo Aceves would have to earn any available spots in the rotation.

To replace the offense lost with Jason Giambi — and, potentially, with free agent Bobby Abreu — the Yankees have interest in first baseman Mark Teixeira. Though Oakland is set to acquire Matt Holliday, it's believed the slugging outfielder would be available at the trade deadline if Oakland isn't in the race.

For now, pitching remains the Yankees' No. 1 priority. "We know we've got some weaknesses," Steinbrenner said. "But we need to build on the starting pitching."

More than $80 million could come off the 2008 payroll in current Yankees' free agents, but Steinbrenner would not address how that money — and the additional cash generated by the new ballpark — would affect this winter's budget.

What he could assure, Steinbrenner said, was that "our philosophy for fielding a championship team. ... is not going to change."

But even the Yankees might not be immune to the economy. Chief operating officer Lonn Trost admitted that the "traffic" had slowed regarding the club's sale of luxury suites and premium seating. "We're trying to work with our fan base and understand what their needs are," he said. Later, Trost revealed to The Associated Press that seven luxury boxes, priced at $600,000, remained available.