This season Randy Johnson gives the Yankees the bona fide No. 1 starter they lacked last season, but the addition of Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright may prove almost as important for New York.

Pavano was one of the most sought-after free agents of the winter, as his "Carlapalooza" tour around the Majors earned headlines in late November and early December. After meeting with several teams, Pavano decided on the Yankees, making him the latest "next best thing" in New York's rotation.

But what will make Pavano any different from the pitchers that the Yankees have signed to big deals in recent years, only to watch them wilt under the bright lights in the House That Ruth Built? Jeff Weaver, Jose Contreras, Javier Vazquez ... will Pavano's name be the next on that list, or will he thrive on baseball's big stage?

Ask him that question, and he'll rattle off every reason why pitching in Montreal or Florida presented challenges in their own right. That's not to say that he believes that either of those spots compare to what he faces in New York, but with a World Series ring on his finger -- one which he beat the Yankees to earn -- he knows what expectations are all about.

"With every organization, there have been different distractions," Pavano said. "The things that come with this city are the fun parts: knowing you're going to have a good team every year, that you play with a bunch of guys that want to win and are expected to win."

"When you have the quality we have, as well as some depth to go with it, then one guy doesn't have to be the guy all the time," said manager Joe Torre. "Pavano is certainly capable of being a No. 1 guy, but he doesn't have to be."

Last spring, Cashman believed that the addition of Vazquez and Kevin Brown, along with the return of Jon Lieber from Tommy John surgery, would make up for the loss of Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and David Wells, giving New York a good shot at reclaiming the World Series trophy. Only things didn't work out as planned, as Brown battled injury and Vazquez battled inconsistency in the second half.