New York ? Brian Cashman’s job is safe — at least for now. The rest of the New York Yankees have plenty to worry about this winter.

Soon after the Yankees completed a historic collapse against Boston in the AL playoffs, volatile owner George Steinbrenner told Cashman, the team’s general manager, that he would not be fired before next season.

Steinbrenner also informed Cashman he should prepare to be summoned to Tampa, Fla., for meetings in the next few days: The star-studded Yankees need to figure out why they fell apart against the Red Sox after opening a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven ALCS.

“He wants results for his investment, like any businessman,” Cashman said Thursday.

Cashman has one year remaining on his contract. It’s his job to spend Steinbrenner’s money wisely and bring championships to the Big Apple, but the Yankees have gone four years without winning the World Series.

He knows what he needs to look for in the offseason.

“It’ll be pitching,” Cashman said. “I don’t think offense is a problem on this club.”

Despite a $183 million opening-day payroll, the Yankees were short on starting pitching all season. When they wanted to add Randy Johnson during the summer, they didn’t have enough major-league-ready prospects to interest Arizona in a trade.

Injuries to the aging rotation forced manager Joe Torre to overwork his bullpen, leaving the team vulnerable in the playoffs — even with a seemingly insurmountable lead.

The Red Sox rallied against closer Mariano Rivera in Game 4, then setup man Tom Gordon in Game 5. Those two games totaled 26 innings in two days, taxing New York’s relievers.

Because of a rainout earlier in the series, 39-year-old Kevin Brown wound up starting Game 7 on a balky back and only three days’ rest.