Change was going to come.

That was evident in Atlanta after the soon-to-be World Series champions eliminated the Dodgers from the 2021 postseason.

“We’re kind of at this little crossroads,” Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler said that night, looking ahead to the offseason. “We have a lot of guys that are free agents, a lot of guys that have been building blocks for this franchise for a long time.

“I hope everyone’s back, right?. But that’s not the reality of the situation.”

That harsh reality was reinforced quickly with shortstop Corey Seager and pitcher Max Scherzer signing for mega-millions from new teams. The Dodgers did re-sign super-utilityman Chris Taylor before MLB’s lockout slammed things shut in early December. Rosters remain frozen with pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen among the free agents in limbo for two months and counting.

Pitchers and catchers were scheduled to report this week to spring training camps in Arizona and Florida. But the owner-imposed lockout continues with the lack of progress toward a new collective bargaining agreement in danger of wiping out not only spring training workouts but regular-season games as well. Negotiations are expected to resume Thursday, with the players’ association ready to respond to the offer MLB made last weekend.

When a new agreement is eventually reached, there will be the baseball equivalent of an Oklahoma land rush as teams race to fill out their rosters and free agents jockey for jobs.

The Dodgers figure to be at the front of that race. Until then, here’s a look at where they stand and what they need to do when the lockout ends.

STARTING PITCHING

The departure of Scherzer and the uncertainty surrounding the health and future of Kershaw make this the area of the Dodgers’ roster most in need of attention.

As it stands now, the Dodgers’ 2022 starting rotation would consist of Buehler, Julio Urias, Andrew Heaney (signed as a free agent before the lockout), Tony Gonsolin and either veteran David Price or one of the team’s pitching prospects (Mitch White, Andre Jackson, et al). Trevor Bauer’s status remains undetermined with MLB’s investigation of the sexual assault allegations against him still open. Dustin May’s recovery from Tommy John surgery last May appears to be going well (at least based on his Instagram updates), but he is not likely to be a factor in the Dodgers’ starting rotation until July or August at the earliest (and even then with limitations).

Even if Kershaw does re-sign, the Dodgers will need to reinforce their starting corps until a wave of youngsters like Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot and Landon Knack arrives. The options for that are limited with slim pickings left among the free agent starting pitchers – anyone for a short-term reunion with Zack Greinke?

There is speculation that the Cincinnati Reds (Wade Miley, Tyler Mahle or, less likely, Luis Castillo) or Oakland A’s (Sean Manaea, Chris Bassitt or Frankie Montas) might try to strike while the trade irons are hot post-lockout. The Dodgers will certainly be on the phone to discuss their willingness to part with any of those starters.

BULLPEN

For the past 10 years, Jansen has anchored the back end of the Dodgers’ bullpen, collecting a franchise record 350 career saves. He could be there again in 2022 – or he could be closing games elsewhere. Jansen certainly sounded at times last season like he was prepared to move on.

If he does, the Dodgers would not likely look to replace him. Instead, they could go with a multi-headed closer approach, shuffling Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson (signed as a free agent) or Brusdar Graterol through the ninth inning based on matchups.

The emergence of young relievers Alex Vesia and Phil Bickford last season plus the good news that lefty Victor Gonzalez has devoted himself to getting in better shape this winter bodes well for the group of relievers who will be counted on to bridge the gap between the starters and the closer (whoever it is). Tommy Kahnle and Caleb Ferguson are expected to rejoin that mix after missing the 2021 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

CATCHING

The Dodgers’ catching duties are in good hands with Manager Dave Roberts already calling Will Smith “a top 3 catcher in baseball” last fall. Given the dearth of two-way catchers in baseball and the 26-year-old Smith’s .892 OPS three seasons into his big-league career, Roberts might not be inflating Smith’s ranking by much.

INFIELD

Seager’s departure leaves a larger void in the Dodgers’ lineup than it does on the field. Trea Turner will move back to his natural position and replace Seager at shortstop. But the lineup loses a key left-handed bat, leaving it tilting markedly to the right – an imbalance that will only get greater if Max Muncy’s recovery from an elbow injury suffered on the last day of the regular season extends into the 2022 season.

That injury was much more serious than Muncy or the Dodgers wanted to admit during their postseason run. But Muncy has since revealed he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.

All of that makes first baseman Freddie Freeman a runaway winner as the leading man on the Dodgers’ post-lockout wish list. The veteran free agent is still expected to re-sign with the Braves where he has become a franchise icon. But if Freeman feels disrespected by the Braves seemingly dragging their feet about negotiating a new contract with him, the Dodgers could exploit that and offer the Orange County native an attractive alternative.

Signing the 32-year-old Freeman – though very much a long shot – would fill the left-handed void created by Seager’s free agency without requiring the $300 million commitment that shortstop (and right-handed hitter) Carlos Correa will be seeking. He could slide easily into the Dodger lineup with Muncy (when healthy) sliding over to second base or into the DH slot that will become an every-day thing in the National League.

OUTFIELD

The subtraction of Seager (and potentially Muncy, at least for a while) puts an even greater onus on Cody Bellinger to bounce back from his dreadful 2021 season – and, frankly, reverse the downward slide that has followed his 2019 National League MVP season. There were some positive signs in the postseason but Bellinger’s rebirth will be critical for the 2022 Dodgers.

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Outfielders Mookie Betts and AJ Pollock are part of the right-handed tilt – along with Smith, third baseman Justin Turner, Trea Turner and Taylor, who will pop up all around the field again in 2022 – that has to be addressed in some way post-lockout.

DESIGNATED HITTER

MLB and the players’ union have reportedly agreed on at least one thing – the time for the universal DH has come.

The Dodgers’ approach to the DH in the past (during interleague play or its temporary implementation for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season) has been to rotate multiple players through the position, using it as a rest stop for veteran players during the long journey of a season. That is likely to apply again in the short term, with Justin Turner and Pollock in line to absorb a lot of at-bats in the specialized role (and free up playing time for Taylor in its wake).

Whoever fills the DH spot, it puts another position player in the starting lineup on a daily basis. Given the Dodgers’ weak bench last season, adding a bat would be ideal. Of the best remaining free agent hitters Kyle Schwarber seems like an ideal fit – he is left-handed and has been a DH even as he played the field for the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals. Kris Bryant’s multi-position flexibility could also make him a target.