The MLB Free agent rumor market is still churning as spring training starts and names like Ervin Santana, Nelson Cruz, Kendrys Morales and Stephen Drew are still on the market, leaving teams like the Toronto Blue Jays Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and the NY Mets potential targets.
The way baseball free agency is set up puts these players in a tough spot, as they all received qualifying offers and that is why teams are weary of signing them. Teams will have to give up draft picks to get those deals done and now after ESPN.com is reporting that the Baltimore Orioles have signed Ubaldo Jimenez, one of these players is likely the next domino to fall. Morales could end up back with the Mariners and he has been getting some interest from the Orioles, according to CBS Sports, while Santana appeared to be close with the Blue Jays before that fell apart.
Santana had one of his best seasons last year with the Royals and he came into free agency looking for a long term deal worth over $100 million, instead he may now have to sign a one year deal and may not even get what Matt Garza received in his four year, $50 million deal from the Brewers. The Orioles were looking to sign a pitcher and they appear to have done that, as ESPN.com is reporting that the team and Jimenez have come to an agreement.
The Mariners remain in the mix for both Nelson Cruz and Santana heading into spring training, as both of those players were considered potential targets earlier in the season. Cruz remains an option since the Mariners would like to add some power to the lineup behind their $240 million man in Robinson Cano, as they signed only players like Corey Hart and Logan Morrison in the offseason. Cruz could end up back with the Texas Rangers and the Mariners could look to sign Santana after Hisashi Iwakuma went down with a hand injury and Taijuan Walker came down with a shoulder issues.
The Baltimore Orioles, Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and Blue Jays could look at various players left on the market and this comes as Santana put together a 9-10 record with a 3.24 ERA and the qualifying offer is the main reason why no one has signed him. Cruz had 27 home runs and 76 RBIs, but he also missed 50 games due to the PED Biogenesis suspension and Morales comes in after hitting 23 homers with 80 RBIs.
Jimenez comes in for the Orioles with an 82-75 career record and he went 13-9 last season with a 3.30 ERA and made 32 starts with the Indiana's and he had a $14.1 million qualifying offer extended to him. The Orioles are going to have to give up their 17th overall pick to sign him and they feel it could be worth it. The team is also looking at Morales.