I have two points to make.
1. I am not sure why Torre and crew are "to be admired". Admired for what exactly? First of all, only like 4 of those 90's Yankees are even on the team now. and for as good as they all are individually, they should be winning World Series' not just the damn division. I dont see why i should admire the all-star Yankees losing to the Tigers, Angels, Red Sox, Marlins, D-backs.
2. I want to take the time, but perhaps someone else has to diagram where the Red Sox and Yankees have gotten each of their players and where they went after their stay on each team. I am assuming we have had a LOT more players come through the Sox system than the Yanks (i know of a few) and a lot of the ones who didnt, we got through smart trading. Who did the Yanks trade for Mussina? Johnson? Giambi? sheffield? Damon? Cano? Matsui? i dont think anyone, and even A-Rod and Abreu were basically complete rip-offs due to another team wanting out of a salary. The red sox dont do this nearly as often. And how many players can you think of that were great on the Yankees and then went to another team? I can think of any (kenny lofton doesnt count). but the sox dont have 3/4 of their champ. team from 2 years ago! Certainly if they were "buying" championships they wouldn't lose guys to free agency.
compare salaries with the Yankees and mets and angels and red sox all you want, but paying guys a lot and hording all stars are two very different things and the Yankees stand alone there.