Though nobody knows for sure when Major League Baseball's lockout will be over, it won't last forever. And whenever it ends, teams will inevitably pick up where they left off in their offseason shopping.
So, we got ahead of the game by freshening up each team's free-agent wish lists.
In some cases, this simply involved identifying players in whom teams are already known to be interested. In others, it meant speculating on players who should be on teams' radars because of how well they'd fit the clubs' needs and resources.
To keep things from getting too lengthy, we kept it to three players per team. For most clubs, the idea should be to get all three players. For others, there are either/or scenarios that could be in play.
We'll go division by division, starting in the American League East and ending in the National League West.
American League East
Baltimore Orioles
1. RHP Garrett Richards: He's a bit of a project in a post-sticky-stuff world, but he'd nonetheless be a low-risk, high-reward signing in the same vein as their deal with starting pitcher Jordan Lyles.
2. RHP Vince Velasquez: He's another fallen pitcher who needs a fresh start, and he happens to have a connection to O's general manager Mike Elias from their days with the Houston Astros.
3. C Stephen Vogt: Top prospect Adley Rutschman is Baltimore's catcher of the future, yet Vogt would be a good veteran stopgap and a valuable imparter of wisdom for the youngster.
Boston Red Sox
1. 1B Freddie Freeman: Maybe he's a long shot for Boston, but he'd be an offensive and especially a defensive upgrade for a first base spot that produced all of 0.1 rWAR in 2021.
2. OF Seiya Suzuki: Though he also interests the Yankees and Blue Jays, according to Sean McAdam of the Boston Sports Journal, the Red Sox's interest in the Japanese slugger is underscored by an actual need in right field.
3. RHP Kenley Jansen: A bullpen arm is also among Boston's needs, so why not target the best closer the market still has to offer?
New York Yankees
1. SS Carlos Correa: Let's just say that reports of their unwillingness to break the bank for the shortstop they clearly need don't pass the smell test.
2. 1B Freddie Freeman: If the Yankees are serious about their shortstop situation, they could at least acquire the left-handed bat they need by realizing their interest in Freeman, which MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported.
3. LHP Carlos Rodon: His durability is a major question mark, but he's nonetheless the kind of high-upside arm the Yankees need in their rotation after Gerrit Cole.
