And if it were up to Derek Jeter, they could go into spring training without making another major move.

After the Yankees secured free-agent starters CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, "Anything else they do now is just a bonus," Jeter said Monday night, appearing at Central Park?s Wollman Rink for his Turn 2 Foundation.

Jeter had high praise for the $243.5 million invested in Sabathia and Burnett. "You couldn?t ask for any two better starters," Jeter said. "That?s what we said we?ve needed all along."

Jeter wouldn?t speculate much about Ramirez in pinstripes. But when asked about the potential for Ramirez?s out-sized personality in the Yankees? clubhouse, Jeter said, "Not too many people have problems fitting in, I don?t think.

"[But] I can?t sit here and tell you how he?s going to fit in our clubhouse because he?s not in our clubhouse."

Giving examples of teammates who marched to their own beat, Jeter said, "David Wells was his own person. [Jason] Giambi was his own person. Johnny [Damon] is his own person. There?s a lot of different personalities that play on our team.

"It?s just that when you?re on the field, you?re trying to accomplish one thing. You welcome people with their own personalities."

It worked for Ramirez in Los Angeles under manager Joe Torre, but that was a two-and-a-half month situation. Question is, how badly do the Yanks need Manny?

Though Sabathia wields a dangerous bat, the Yankees? only response to losing Bobby Abreu and Giambi to free agency was to trade for Nick Swisher, who is coming off his poorest season.

If the season started today, Alex Rodriguez probably would be the No. 3 hitter, protected by either Hideki Matsui or Jorge Posada in the cleanup spot.

Sounds like there?s room for another potent bat.

"I think we?ve got a pretty good lineup," Jeter said. "I don?t think scoring runs really has been the issue we?ve had the last few years. I think we?ve scored plenty of runs. It?s just finding ways to shut teams down."

The Angels have shut down negotiations with Mark Teixeira, and the Red Sox already have soured on the free agent process with the switch-hitting first baseman.

He might get that eight-year offer in excess of $180 million, but it?s probably not coming from the Yankees.

Since the Angels backed out, the Yankees? stance on Teixeira "hasn?t changed," according to an industry source familiar with the club?s thinking.

The Yankees? interest remains on the fringes but they are unlikely to see his demands in years come down.

Also, the diminished market for Ramirez has caused the Yankees to pause. The Dodgers have pulled their two-year, $45 million offer, the Angels haven?t rushed in and the Red Sox aren?t an option.

So, the Yanks feel, they eventually could benefit from a discount in terms ? say a two-year deal.

Jeter said he doesn?t really know Ramirez personally, "with the exception of playing against him in some All-Star Games," although one trait is obvious. "He?s had a lot of success wherever he?s gone."

BRIEF: The Yankees are waiting on Andy Pettitte to take a one-year offer, but club officials still anticipate a deal. "I hope so," said Jeter, who has spoken to Pettitte but did not divulge details. "I?ve been playing with Andy a long time."