YANKEE NOTES

If Willie Randolph lands The Mets’ managing gig, Joe Torre will be searching for a bench coach. And there is a possibility Torre won’t have look any further than hitting coach Don Mattingly.

Since spring training, Torre had talked glowingly of Mattingly and believes Mattingly would make a good manager if that’s what the former Yankee star wants to do.

Torre often bounces ideas off Mattingly, so he would be comfortable having Mattingly be the bench coach if Randolph leaves.

Of course, that would mean the Yankees would be looking for a hitting coach.

Randolph will interview for the Met job Monday and is considered a strong candidate to land the post vacated when the Mets fired Art Howe.

“Decisions on coaches are made in our meetings,” GM Brian Cashman said.

None of Torre’s coaches has a contract for next year.

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As for when George Steinbrenner will gather his Inner Circle in Tampa to chart a course for next season, Cashman didn’t know.

“No meeting has been called yet,” said Cashman, who will be back next year. “There are no plans whatsoever.”

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While the MRI on Paul Quantrill’s right knee done Thursday showed no structural damage and won’t require surgery, there is a chance Kenny Lofton’s left knee will undergo arthrospic surgery in the offseason.

The Yankees are leaning toward Gary Sheffield having his left shoulder looked at by Dr. James Andrews, but no date has been set. Sheffield had trouble getting his glove above his waist to catch balls in the ALCS and finished the series in a 1-for-17 funk. And the one hit was an infield hit.