Weigh-in: the winner at baseball's swap meet. (Voice Of The Fan).(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)

A.L. East teams were at the center of many of the early offseason deals, and readers have plenty to say about the changes to the Yankees and the Red Sox.

"I've never been a Dan Duquette admirer," writes Earl Martin of Vancouver, B.C., "but I think he has done an excellent job of making over the Red Sox in a very turbulent situation. Dumping Carl Everett for a viable major league arm; adding Dustin Hermanson and John Burkett to the top end of the rotation, and strengthening team defense and speed with Johnny Damon adds up to a very successful offseason for Boston. Throw in a return to full health for Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek, and I think you have a viable contender to the Yankees in the A.L. East."

Martin doesn't think the Yankees improved much--citing the losses of Tino Martinez, David Justice, Chuck Knoblauch, Scott Brosius and Paul O'Neill--but Heath Ritchie of Camargo, Okla., says things will be fine in the Bronx.

"The Yankees, without a doubt, added the biggest pieces ...