While the Johnson signing makes sense in the short run, the Yankees made an awful move this winter in giving starting pitcher Jaret Wright $21 million over three years. Wright has had two shoulder operations, failed his first physical with the Yankees, and has a career ERA of 5.09. His above-average 2004 showing can be explained by luck and by the fact that he played for the Braves, long famous for getting the most out of their pitchers. Wright’s spot in the rotation would have been perfect for a promising young pitcher, if the Yankees had any such pitchers to speak of.

Over in Queens, it looks like the Mets may actually emerge as the best team in New York by as early as 2006. The Mets are finally spending money on first-tier talent instead of washed-up injury risks, and greatly improved their team by signing Pedro Martinez and the five-tooled Carlos Beltran. If top prospects like David Wright and Jose Reyes develop quickly, the Mets will be dangerous.

Kris Benson, meanwhile, established himself this winter as one of the most overpaid pitchers in recent memory, but the Mets can be excused one mishap. Benson is about as average as pitchers can be, sporting a career record of 47-53 and an ERA of 4.28, slightly better than the NL average of 4.41 over that span. He didn’t deserve $22.5 million, but will still help the club.

Omar Minaya, the new Mets GM, deserves credit for a successful offseason.

He is also owed some major props from Red Sox Nation.

Minaya helps the Red Sox regardless of who his employer is. This winter, in signing Martinez, he kept the ace from following the frustrating paths of Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs, star Sox who wound up in pinstripes.

In signing Beltran, Minaya kept the Yankees from filling their center-field hole with perhaps the most complete player in the game.

And last winter, as the Expos GM, Minaya dealt Javier Vazquez to the Yankees, depleting their farm system and giving New York the pitcher who would surrender both of Johnny Damon’s bombs in the decisive game seven of the ALCS.

On behalf of Red Sox fans everywhere: Thanks Omar!

—Staff writer Stewart H. Hauser can be reached at hauser@fas.harvard.edu