Outfielder Matt Lawton will be a free agent after the season, but he might retire. Lawton, who turns 34 in November, said he did not want to play for a losing team and was not inclined to be a reserve for a contender. "It would have to be the ideal situation," Lawton said. For the moment, Lawton is struggling for playing time on the Yankees, even with Gary Sheffield unable to play in the field because of a strained thigh muscle. Bubba Crosby started in right field Thursday for the third time in four games, going 3 for 5 with 2 R.B.I.; Ruben Sierra started in right the other game. "I can't complain about anything," Lawton said. "I was in there for a while. Right now, the team is trying to win, and doing whatever it takes to win. I'll sit there and root the team on. It's something different, but I'll just have to get used to it."