NL East

'Tis the season of giving, and Mets fans everywhere are hoping that they'll be given some outfield reinforcements prior to the start of the 2013 season. As it stands now, the options are pretty thin.

In 2007, John Maine was a 26-year-old 15-game winner for the New York Mets and looked like a mainstay in their rotation.

Going into 2013, the Miami Marlins are just hoping he can be a major league pitcher.

"When you have no expectations, you'll never be disappointed." Those were the words of Vince Vaughn during his role as Peter LaFleur in the movie Dodgeball.

So, if the New York Mets enter the 2013 season with the intention of being mediocre while waiting until their bevy of talented prospects are ready to contribute, then the season will be the fifth consecutive sub-.500 campaign to begin the Citi Field era.

The Philadelphia Phillies have several holes that they needed to fill in the 2012 offseason. This is partially due to the subpar performance of the 2012 where they decided to trade away two outfielders and a starting pitcher. Those players are Shane Victorino, Hunter Pence, and Joe Blanton, respectively.

The Philadelphia Phillies still need an outfielder. The Boston Red Sox could still use another starting pitcher. 

Fresh off a trade that sent reigning NL Cy Young Award-winner R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays, the New York Mets are pursuing replacement options that can help them get back on track in the NL East.

The New York Mets don't have a lot of money to spend this winter. 

Though the team has one to two openings in its outfield, general manager Sandy Alderson hasn't chased a big-name free agent like B.J. Upton or Nick Swisher. Trading for a player like Justin Upton won't happen because the Mets are in the position of acquiring prospects, not dealing them away. 

There is a unique feeling for Philadelphia fans entering the 2013 season.  Much of the talent that helped the team win 102 games in 2011 remains, but the bitter taste of the 2012 season remains strong.  Ruben Amaro has quietly filled the team's needs, avoiding the flashy free-agent signing or blockbuster trade that has marked seasons past.  The team appears poised to compete, but there is more uncertainty surrounding this team than there has been in many years.

The New York Mets have sent R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays, and the identity of the franchise, into a state of flux, hoping to reach the playoffs by 2015.

The Philadelphia Phillies have potentially signed two key pitchers in recent days.  According to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports, the Phillies have likely reached a multi-year agreement with free-agent setup man Mike Adams.