Desperate for starting pitchers, the New York Yankees expect to enter next season without 20-game winner Mike Mussina.

www.FoxSports.com reported yesterday that Mussina intends to retire and will make the move official this week. In the report, the Web site cited unidentified major league sources.

Mussina, who turns 40 next month, would become the first pitcher to call it quits following a 20-win season since Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax in 1966.

"I have not talked to him lately," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said yesterday evening at a Manhattan charity event to benefit his Catch 25 Foundation and Alzheimer's research. "He had led me to believe that that's what was going to happen at the end of the year. I wasn't quite sure in a sense that I believed him because sometimes when you get away from it you really miss it."

Only 30 wins shy of 300, Mussina was 20-9 with a 3.37 ERA for the Yankees this season — becoming the oldest pitcher in big league history to win 20 games for the first time. The right-hander tossed 200 1/3 innings in 34 starts, rebounding impressively from a disappointing 2007 season.

Mussina has spent 18 years in the majors — the first 10 with Baltimore followed by eight in New York. He filed for free agency after the World Series.

The www.FoxSports.com report said Mussina delayed his retirement announcement until after baseball's major postseason awards had been handed out. He won his seventh Gold Glove and finished tied for sixth in AL Cy Young Award balloting.

"I know he talked about wanting to be home more. And if he does, I won't be surprised," Girardi said. "But if he comes back, I won't be surprised, either. And I wouldn't necessarily be surprised if that's what he said, (then) changes his mind in January. Because you know it's something that's been such a huge part of his life and his family life, that you miss it."

TRADE

RED SOX DEAL CRISP TO ROYALS FOR RAMIREZ

The Kansas City Royals picked up the leadoff hitter they had been seeking, acquiring center fielder Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox for reliever Ramon Ramirez yesterday.

Kansas City was 12th among 14 AL teams in runs last season and added power last month, obtaining first baseman Mike Jacobs from Florida.

The switch-hitting Crisp gives the Royals speed at the top of the lineup and a superb defender in center field.

"The speed aspect of it was very important," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "I've talked many times about the importance of a balanced lineup, speed at the top and the bottom, and Coco certainly gives us that."

Crisp, 29, was the subject of trade rumors for much of last season following the emergence of rookie Jacoby Ellsbury.

Crisp hit .283 with seven homers and 41 RBIs in 98 games. He also stole 20 bases in 27 attempts.

Ramirez, a 27-year-old righty, went 3-2 with a 2.64 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings.