Major League Baseball's owner-imposed lockout has finally come to an end, 99 days after it was first instituted. It's a joyous day for baseball fans, who won't have long before turning their attention to another pressing matter in the sport: MLB free agency. The offseason, placed on pause since Dec. 2, will now be allowed to resume. Free agents are expected to be able to start signing deals again Thursday evening.

The winter's first half saw seven of CBS Sports' top 10 free agents come off the board. In case you forgot after three months, that included the Texas Rangers adding both Corey Seager and Marcus Semien; the Seattle Mariners inking reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray; the New York Mets grabbing Max Scherzer and Starling Marte; the Toronto Blue Jays lassoing Kevin Gausman; and the Chicago Cubs signing Marcus Stroman.

Despite all of that activity, there are still several stars who need to find new homes between now and Opening Day. Below, we've offered predictions on where the 10 best remaining free agents might end up signing. (Do note that we previously tried our hand at guessing the kinds of contracts these same 10 players will receive.) While this is a foolish exercise, it's also a welcomed one after the slog of the past few months.

MLB

7 MLB free agents who will sign quickly post-lockout, and 7 who will take more time

Now, with the warm and fuzzies out of the way, let's move on to the predictions.

 

1. Carlos Correa (No. 1 on top 50 list): Yankees

There are only so many teams who would realistically meet Correa's kind of ask. The Yankees would seem to be one. It doesn't hurt that they have a clear need for impact-level talent. Yes, New York has a few promising infield prospects on the way, including former first-round pick Anthony Volpe, but there's no rule against having too many good players — not until the next round of CBA talks, anyway.

 

2. Kris Bryant (No. 3 on top 50 list): Mariners

The Mariners have been open in their desire to add a right-handed hitter who can play third base. Bryant checks those boxes, and more. His ability to play other positions, including first base and across the outfield, and his reputation for being a good clubhouse presence should also make him an appealing target.