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The Cincinnati Reds were one of the best teams in baseball last season, which isn't half bad considering they're such a small market team.  This 2013 season will see the Reds looking to grab their third NL Central title in four years.  The talent is there.  The pieces are in place.

As good as they are, and as good as they should be, one can't help but look at the team and see a handful of weaknesses that might just keep them from being repeat NL Central victors.  

Coming off their worst season in decades, the Boston Red Sox face a tough road to get back to the top of an American League East that seemingly grows tougher every day. 

The team has been in shambles ever since their historic September meltdown in 2011 that cost them the playoffs and former manager Terry Francona his job. 

'Tis the season for hard bargaining in Major League Baseball. A handful of players filed for arbitration on Friday, including several players with considerable star power.

Among the notables is San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley, who filed for over $10 million following his breakout year in 2012. Also looking for significant pay raises are San Francisco Giants closer Sergio Romo and Cincinnati Reds right-handers Mat Latos and Homer Bailey.

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed right-handed hitting outfielder Delmon Young to a one-year deal worth $750,000, and Buster Olney opines that this could leave left-handed outfielder Domonic Brown out of the loop in Philly.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are primed to make a run at the defending MLB champion San Francisco Giants and the free-spending Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. 2012 was a letdown, but 2013 is going to be a major rebound year.

The Seattle Mariners haven't necessarily had the best offseason so far.

Spring training is three weeks away, yet there are still several players who could help MLB clubs available on the free-agent market.

Perhaps teams want to go through drills and a couple of weeks of exhibition games to see what they have on their rosters before bringing outside help in. Maybe a few of these players are still holding out hope for a starting position that doesn't currently exist.

The Detroit Tigers have never had a player go into arbitration since Dave Dombrowski became the general manager in 2002, and they shouldn't start with Max Scherzer.

While it's true that not all teams are equal, whether it be from the perspective of finances or talent—both on the major league roster and in the minor leagues—every team has the ability to make a move.

It's an ongoing battle, and kind of a crap shoot, to determine if a player available via free agency or trade is a better fit, a better option, than what a team currently has.

The temptation of making a move can be overpowering and unrelenting.

In some cases, resistance is futile.

Once again, the NL East is stacked with talent from the top teams.  Despite the complete overhaul of the Miami Marlins after the disappointing 2012 season and the trade of Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey from the Mets, this is still arguably one of the toughest divisions there is top to bottom.