People make much of the payroll of the Yankees as evidence in itself of the power of the team. This year, mid-way, they sit at just .500 and sixth team in the AL wildcard race. Some of the side references to the facts of their trading and payroll from this New York Times article, written after last night's loss 10-2 to Detroit, paint a picture of a burder and lack of foresight rather than blssing in relation to their spending capacity and recent trades:

The Yankees, a franchise that has become a bastion for the faded star, are paying Johnson $16 million a season through 2007. They also included $9 million in their January trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks to get him...On Friday, the Yankees would rather have had Jeremy Bonderman, who pitched a complete game for Detroit to improve to 10-5. While the Yankees spend millions for less, Bonderman, 22, makes $400,000 for the Tigers. Bonderman is the pitcher the Tigers received, via Oakland, when they traded Jeff Weaver to the Yankees in 2002. Weaver is long gone from New York, traded for Kevin Brown, an injured pitcher making $15 million. In the deal with Los Angeles for Weaver, the Yankees also traded Yhency Brazoban, a minor leaguer. Now, at a time when the Yankees are turning to young relievers, Brazoban has 15 saves for the Dodgers.