The free-agent market, compared to most years, is not strong. The pace of signings, never quick to begin with, could lag even more this off-season.

Teams not only will explore trades, but also wait for a new collective-bargaining agreement; high-revenue clubs might refrain from spending big until they know what the new luxury-tax threshold and penalties will be.

That said, the best free agents eventually will sign, as they always do.

Here are my top 10: