With starting left-handed pitcher Andy Pettitte out with a strained left groin, what does GM Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees do during these crucial months of the regular to stay competitive?

Buster Olney of ESPN the Magazine says the Yankees focus is not on adding a starting pitcher right now, but rather their clear priority is improving the bench. Starting pitching, in Olney’s opinion is not even the team’s number two priority – that would be bullpen help.

Bill Madden of the New York Daily News said that GM Cashman was already dialing up the Arizona Diamondbacks for Danny Haren, the Chicago Cubs for Ted Lilly and the Cleveland Indians about Fausto Carmona. It isn’t clear if it’s an assumption by Madden that Cashman actually made the calls, but you can’t count it out during an injury-crisis such as what the team is going through now.

Yesterday Bruce Levin of ESPNChicago.com said the Yankees could be interested in Lilly to replace Pettitte in the rotation. However, they won’t be the only ones going after Lilly over the next two weeks. Other teams interested in Lilly include the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers.