True, the 2002 season is set to kick off and the unsettled labor situation means no one quite knows what will happen in November.

If owners lock out the players after the World Series, in much the same way their NBA brethren did several years back, there will be a moratorium on player movement and baseball will be digging in for a long, cold winter.

But half the fun of baseball is looking ahead to what might be. This fall's free-agent class is a striking one, with plenty of help available at many positions.

Between now and November, some will no doubt be pulled off the marked after re-signing with their present club, as Mike Sweeney did on Friday. As things stand now, however, here's a preview of the Class of '02-'03:

The Top 10
1. Greg Maddux. OK, he'll be 36 in the first month of the season. But would you pass up on a four-time Cy Young Award-winner?

After all, Maddux has been extremely durable, making at least 33 starts every year since 1996, and after a diastrous start last season, rebounded to win 17 games. It's not as if a little lost velocity is going to make him less effective.

It should be fascinating to watch these negotiations, as the Braves are far more mindful of their payroll now that they're under corporate watch. Madduz has sent signals he would consider playing out West (Arizona, San Diego) if things can't get worked out.

2. Ivan Rodriguez. What are we bidding for the game's best overall catcher since Johnny Bench? The Texas Rangers hope it doesn't come to that.

Rodriguez worked out his own deal last time with the front office. That won't happen again with agent Jeff Moorad now representing him.

For all the Gold Gloves and All-Star apprearances, it's amazing to consider that Pudge won't turn 31 until after this season is completed. There will be concern about the condition of his knees and questions about how long he can stay beind the plate. But one way or another, he'll land a rich deal somewhere.

3. Scott Rolen. Barring some shocking development, this much we know: Rolen won't be staying in Philadelphia. He made that clear when he turned down a mega-deal last winter, then chastised the Phils for not doing more to be competitive.

	Rolen

If he's not the best third baseman in the business, he's on a very short list of the best. Beyond his obvious skills at the plate and in the field, he plays with great intensty and is a natural leader.

A number of big-market teams (Orioles, Yankees, Braves) could drive the market up. It will be worth watching how much a distraction his sitaution is to his team and Rolen himself.

4. Roberto Alomar. The Mets have an option, but Alomar could demand a trade after being dealt in the middle of a long-term deal, and be one of the few players to follow through on the threat.

Alomar has already showed a willingness to stay in New York, but some want to wait and see how he handles the pressures the city offers and see how he gets along with manager Bobby Valentine.

Alomar is 34, but as he demonstrated last year, still has plenty left in his game. Also, Alomar is well-known for having a strong season in his first year in a new city, so he could be positioned to only enhance his bargaining power.

This certain Hall of Famer has already made stops in five cities (San Diego, Toronto, Baltimore, Cleveland and New York). Does anyone want to bet against a sixth?

5. Jeff Kent. Kent's spring has been a miserable one, with a wrist injury and his recounting of how it took place is beginning to sound like a Jon Lovitz routine ("I was washing my truck ... yeahhh, that's the ticket"). He had a down season in 2002, dropping 34 points in batting average while watching his homers cut by one-third.

But this is a former MVP we're talking about, and particularly if Alomar comes off the market early, he could be the best middle-infielder available. How many second basemen in history have posted five straight 100 RBI seasons?

6. Robb Nen. Nen has his own option for 2003, but if he chooses to test the market, he'll clearly be the best closer for sale.

Closers are notoriously streaky, going from one good season to one bad, but Nen is in a class of the game's truly elite. Only Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman are at the same level as Nen.

Nen has had 35 or more saves in each of the last six seasons. There's no evidence to suggest that he's unhappy with San Francisco, but there's also no question he would be underpaid if he accepted his $9 million option.

7. Jim Thome. Thome has developed into one of the game's most consistent sluggers in the last three seasons, jumping up to a career-high 49 homers last season with the Tribe.

	Thome

He won't turn 32 until August, meaning he's got plenty of productive seasons remaining.

The Indians would like to keep him to anchor the middle of their lineup, but the big-spending days are over in Cleveland -- just ask Thome's former teamamtes Roberto Alomar and Juan Gonzalez.

Thome's only problem may be the glut of power-hitting first basemen in the game, which could shrink the number of interested teams.

8. Darin Erstad. Erstad had a miserable season off the field last year, going through a painful divorce, and a result, matched it with a miserable season on the field. His homers went from 25 to 9; his RBI dipped from 100 to 63; his hits from 240 to 163.

Erstad maintains his personal issues are behind him and looks poised for a year more like his breakout 2000 season. If he comes close, he'll be able to write his own ticket this winter.

He provides defense, speed, on-base ability and plenty of intangibles. Erstad is precisely the kind of player who energizes teams by his style of play.

9. Tom Glavine. Much like his longtime staff-mate, Maddux, Glavine's prime is past him. Still, like Maddux, he's never had a history of arm problems and his finesse approach on the mound should ease his transition in the years to come.

Perhaps more so than Maddux, Glavine seems more likely to remain with the Braves; they're the only organization he's known and he's made Atlanta his home.

One intriguing possibility could be a return to his hometown of Boston, where he would be immensely popular and perhaps exactly the kind of free agent the Red Sox owners would like to pursue.

10. Edgardo Alfonzo. Like Kent and Erstad, Alfonzo is fortunate that free agency didn't arrive last year, when he was coming off a disappointing season.

He's shifted to third base this year to make room for Alomar at second, but still is a key to the Mets' chances. In 2000, when the Mets won the NL pennant, Alfonzo was their ballast and maybe, one of the game's Top 10 players.

He reported to camp this spring in much better shape, having shed some excess weight, and that should help his comeback effort. But he's got to stay healthy to erase any doubts that surround him. Moving to third won't hurt his versatility.

Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal covers baseball for ESPN.com.