FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Soon enough, we will be immersed in chronicling the Red Sox daily adventures in spring training, which officially begin Thursday, the reporting date for Sox pitchers and catchers. There already has been activity in camp, as Jon Lester, Manny Delcarmen, Kevin Youkilis and Daisuke Matsuzaka have been among the early arrivals, and they almost certainly will have company beginning Monday.

But in the meantime, let's take a quick circuit around the AL East, where the Yankees reign as defending champions and the rest of the division was hardly idle over the winter. The best division in baseball is unlikely to relinquish that description this season.

A team-by-team look:

New York Yankees

Out of pinstripes: Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Melky Cabrera, Chien-Ming Wang, Brian Bruney, Phil Coke.

You can put away the "Johnny Demon" signs. Damon's departure was the most surprising development in the Bronx and with Matsui now an Angel, the Yanks' offense has taken a hit akin to the Sox losing Jason Bay.

First-time Bombers: Curtis Granderson, Randy Winn, Nick Johnson, Javier Vazquez.

Vazquez, a one-time Yankee reacquired from the Braves, gives the Yanks a five-deep rotation, with either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain expected to occupy the 5-hole. Granderson's swing could make him a 35-40 HR man in Yankee Stadium, and DH Johnson gives the Yanks another patient, high OBP man to offset the loss of Damon.

Tampa Bay Rays

Turned over in the Trop: No major losses here, as Ben Zobrist emerged as a star after 2B Akinori Iwamura was hurt and then was traded to the Pirates after the season. The Rays also shed a passel of relievers (Joe Nelson, Russ Springer, Chad Bradford, Brian Shouse) and OF Gabe Gross.

New under the dome: The Rays' lack of a closer was the biggest reason they failed to defend their AL title last season; they rectified that shortcoming by trading for ex-Brave Rafael Soriano, a power right-hander who punched out 102 batters in 75 2/3 innings in his first season as a closer. Soriano was especially tough on right-handed hitters, holding them to a .138 average.

The Rays are hoping Matt Joyce, acquired last year from Detroit for Edwin Jackson, wins the right field job, and that designated hitter Pat Burrell is not a total bust. Their young rotation fell short of expectations last year, but the young arms (David Price, Wade Davis, Jeff Niemann) are impressive, especially if James Shields and Matt Garza become consistent stoppers.

Toronto Blue Jays

Cleared customs: The Jays no longer have Roy Halladay, for my money the best pitcher in the league for the span of the decade. Marco Scutaro, who thrived as Jays' leadoff hitter and fulltime shortstop, relocated in the Fens, and Kevin Millar's run of playing for AL East teams ended when he signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs.

North-of-the-border imports: The Jays have a new catcher in John Buck, and shortstop Alex Gonzalez essentially switched jobs with Scutaro. Brandon Morrow comes from Seattle in the three-team deal for Halladay and projects as a starter in a rotation that will have more than a dozen arms competing for a spot, including top prospect Kyle Drabek.

The most notable newcomer, of course, is general manager Alex Anthopoulos, whose first season will be considerably enhanced if outfielder Vernon Wells, who had wrist surgery in November, stays healthy long enough to play like a guy with a seven-year, $126 million salary. The other outfield positions are also up for grabs, and Brett Wallace, who also came as a result of the Halladay deal, projects as the first baseman of the future.

The Jays are in full rebuilding mode, but their pitching could surprise.

Baltimore Orioles

No longer an O: The biggest departure is third baseman Melvin Mora, allowed to leave as a free agent.

Camden calling: The Orioles have a chance to be the division's most improved team, having added a top-of-the-rotation starter in Kevin Millwood, a proven closer in Mike Gonzalez, and new corner infielders in Miguel Tejada, playing third for the first time in his career, and Garrett Atkins.

The Orioles' young outfield of Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Nolan Reimold has real star quality, and if young pitchers Chris Tillman, Brian Matusz and Brad Bergesen develop along similar lines, watch out.