ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Changing into a Yankees uniform felt good. David Justice just wanted people to understand that wearing it won't make him a cure-all for a struggling team.

	David Justice was 0-for-3 and scored a run in his Yankees debut.

"This team is loaded with a bunch of guys who can flat out play," the 34-year-old slugger said Friday before the start of New York's series against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

"What I really think about that is it ain't no point in me coming here trying to be a saviour because I'm not that type of player. I don't think I can come in and just carry the Yankees. But I definitely feel I can come in and help the team."

Justice, acquired Thursday from the Cleveland Indians for Ricky Ledee and two players to be named later, was not the Yankees' first -- or even second -- choice to bolster the offense. The club turned to the Indians only after failing to complete deals for Juan Gonzalez and Sammy Sosa.

The deal pushed the Yankees' payroll to about $103 million, the first major league team to top the $100 million mark. The Yankees began the season at about $92.5 million -- the final calculations will be based on rosters as of Aug. 31.

And although he arrived sporting much healthier statistics than Ledee compiled in 62 games for New York, Justice knows that he's really supposed to fill the shoes of a Gonzalez or Sosa -- two of the game's top power hitters.

"No doubt about it, I have thought about that," he said. "But I'm not Sammy, nor am I Juan Gonzalez. So what I tell myself is: 'Don't try to be those guys. I am who I am. Just play the way I play, as hard as I've always played, and just really take it day by day.' I'm sure that a lot of people are probably very surprised by this move and probably wanted Juan and Sammy." Justice batted .265 with 21 homers and 58 RBI for the Indians, who trimmed their payroll by getting rid of a player making $7 million a year through 2002. Ledee is making just $240,000 this year and won't be eligible for salary arbitration until after next season.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman planted the seed for a possible deal with Cleveland when he contacted the Indians about another issue Tuesday. He pressed the trade in discussions the following day with Indians general manager John Hart.

The swap ended the club's pursuit of Sosa, and Cashman said it should have a settling effect on the team -- at least for awhile.

"It's New York. This crisis or whatever you want to call it is over and the next one is coming. What it's going to be, I don't know," Cashman said. "I understand it was a drain on the club, and I'm glad this area is over. It's part of our culture and we have to find ways to fight through it."

Justice was penciled into the No. 5 spot in the batting order as the designated hitter Friday night. He also figures to get some playing time in left and right field.

"I just asked him how comfortable he is DH-ing, and he said no problem," manager Joe Torre said. "He's excited to be here and that made me happy."

Justice said was stunned by the deal, mostly because New York seemed determined to get Gonzalez or Sosa, and Cleveland has been reluctant to deal with the Yankees in recent years because both have been pennant contenders.

"I've always had a lot of respect for the way the Yankees played and the guys that they had. I just never really ever imagined playing for the Yankees," Justice said. "I never thought because of the rivalry that I would ever cross right over here. But I'm here now, and I'm just looking forward to the whole experience."

Once the initial shock wore off, Justice began to think about how neat it was to a Yankee. He rattled off the names of some of the franchise's all-time best before stopping in mid-sentence. "I'd be in here all day thinking of all the guys I could think of. It's just an honor," he said. "I was looking at myself just a minute ago. I couldn't believe I had a Yankee uniform on. It's just amazing to me."