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NEW YORK - No World Series rings to design. No American League pennant to fly. It's almost enough to make George Steinbrenner greet players at spring training handing out jerseys that read: "We won 103 games and all we got are these lousy T-shirts."

"It's just extra motivation for this year," New York shortstop Derek Jeter said.

Work for the Yankees' elusive 27th World Series title begins today, when pitchers, catchers and injured players report for spring training in Tampa, Fla. Many have already been at the minor league complex for early workouts.

While the clubhouse at Legends Field won't be more crowded than usual, the competition to earn jobs figures to be fiercer. New York opens the spring with enough starting pitchers and outfielders to field two teams.

Returning from last year's rotation are Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and David Wells. Jeff Weaver and Sterling Hitchcock also are back, unsure how they'll be used. And then there's Jose Contreras, the Cuban defector who signed a $32 million, four-year contract to join Steinbrenner's stars.

Where does Joe Torre put all the high-priced players?

"It's going to be difficult," the manager said. "I haven't a clue."

The Yankees' bullpen has been reshuffled, with left-hander Mike Stanton and right-hander Ramiro Mendoza allowed to leave. Replacing them as setup men for Mariano Rivera are newly signed left-hander Chris Hammond and right-hander Antonio Osuna, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in the trade that sent Orlando Hernandez to the Montreal Expos.

And then there's Hideki Matsui, the three-time MVP from Japan whose signing with New York shook up baseball in two continents. Godzilla hits for average and power, and walks a lot.

Even without Matsui, the Yankees led the major leagues last year with 897 runs and were tied for second with 640 walks.

But all those runs and a major league-best 103-58 record didn't mean anything in the postseason, when the Yankees were eliminated by the Anaheim Angels in the first round, ending their streak of four straight AL pennants. New York's starters had an 8.21 postseason ERA.

"It was a terrible finish to a wonderful season," Torre said. "I'm not going to bash my team. We just didn't pitch very well."

That's not what the Boss wants to hear. And he'll be even unhappier if this year's team doesn't bring a title to the Bronx. Despite the new labor agreement that increases his revenue-sharing payments from about $32 million to approximately $45 million and imposes a luxury tax of about $9 million on his major league-leading payroll, Steinbrenner increased spending instead of cutting.

"George is pretty vocal," Torre said. "He knows what he wants. He wants to be on top."

Torre led the Yankees to World Series titles in four of his first five seasons before falling three outs short in 2001 and 10 postseason wins shy last year. He may have his most complicated spring yet because of all the competition for innings and at-bats.

New York's outfield is as crowded as its pitching staff. Going into the spring, Torre figures his starting three will be Matsui in left, Bernie Williams in center and Raul Mondesi in right.

Unless there is a trade or two, that leaves only a backup role for Rondell White, a bust last year when he never overcame a spring injury, and 24-year-old Juan Rivera, who impressed Torre as a rookie last season.

While the youngsters are trying to break in, several players are looking for championship sendoffs.

Clemens, who turns 42 in August, and Wells, who turns 40 in May, both say they're likely to retire at the end of the season. Clemens, the only six-time Cy Young Award winner, needs seven wins to reach 300 and his attempt to get the victories figures to be a big story for the Yankees early in the season.

"I'm looking at it as if it is, and I'm going to have some fun," Wells said.

EXPOS: Orlando Hernandez agreed to a one-year, $4.1 million contract with Montreal. Hernandez had asked for $4.5 million in salary arbitration.

PADRES: San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman could require a second operation on his pitching shoulder, a setback that probably would sideline him for more than two months. Hoffman had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in October.

PHILLIES: Right-hander Terry Adams agreed to a $2.9 million, one-year contract with Philadelphia. The Phillies also signed left-hander Hector Mercado, and minor-league righty Eric Junge and outfielder Jorge Padilla.