With pitchers and catchers reporting to Arizona and Florida free agency is wrapping up.  Thanks to the qualifying offer, and other circumstances, there are still a plethora of top free agents left.  

This is beginning to be familiar ground in MLB as Michael Bourn didn’t sign until February 11 and Kyle Lohse didn’t sign until March 25 in 2013.  There are a few more big names left on the board this year, and with teams less likely to give up the draft pick that comes with signing players who were given a qualifying offer there will be more in future seasons.  

With that being the case it is no surprise that the best four players still available did not take the qualifying offer and have draft pick compensation attached.

Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers

Rumor has it that the Seattle Mariners are going to sign Cruz any day now to solidify the lineup they’ve built to surround the biggest free agent signing of the offseason, Robinson Cano.  

It was also rumored, though, that Cruz already rejected an offer from the M’s earlier in the offseason.  For Cruz his suitors have been few and far between, not only because of the draft pick compensation, but because of his role in the biogenesis scandal as well.  

His best fit was probably back with the Rangers where no one would have lost a draft pick and he would have continued to man right field, but with the Rangers signing of Shin-Soo Choo, that ship has sailed.  

It is not likely any other team is going to step in and give Cruz the money he wants and give up a draft pick, so don’t be surprised if he’s wearing an M on his hat when he reports to spring training.

Stephen Drew, Boston Red Sox

Drew is in a similar boat as Cruz.  His best fit is probably with the team he just won the World Series with, the Boston Red Sox, but they are also ready to go with someone else at his position.  In the case of Drew it is youngster Xander Bogaerts who caught the eyes of Sox management while manning third base in the postseason.  

The Sox have some interest, but only in a one year contract so they can eventually put Bogaerts at short.  Because they don’t want to offer him more than a one year contract that pretty much puts them out of the picture.  

Other than the Sox only one other team has been rumored to have shown interest, but doesn’t seem willing to give Drew and his agent Scott Boras what they want either.  

It would probably be smart for Drew to sign with that team, the New York Mets, if they come at least close to what he wants because if he doesn’t he could have to hold out until after the MLB Draft when the draft compensation goes away.

Ubaldo Jimenez, Cleveland Indians

It was thought that Jimenez really helped his free agent status with a strong second half of the season for the Cleveland Indians in 2013, but he still remains unsigned.  The draft compensation is also hurting his free agency, but what is really shocking is the lack of teams that are looking for starting pitching.  When the free agent market began to shape up it seemed that there would be suitors breaking down the door for Jimenez, but that has not been the case.  In fact, only one team has been rumored to have been looking at Jimenez recently, the Baltimore Orioles, and they seem more apt to sign the other big name starting pitcher that is available, Suk-Min Yoon.  Jimenez may have to go the way of Lohse and wait until just before the season starts to sign with a team that is desperate for pitching help to show up.

Kendrys Morales, Seattle Mariners

Just a few seasons ago Morales was the breakout star of the Los Angeles Angels, but after troubles with injury and the signings of Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols he was no longer needed.  

In 2013, he was traded to the Mariners and he continued to produce with a solid season of 23 home runs and 80 runs batted in.  With draft pick compensation and similar slugger Cruz still being on the market there has been little interest shown in Morales.  

He could return to the Mariners if their potential deal with Cruz falls through and be their designated hitter and part time outfielder, but that all hinges on Cruz.  The only other team that is rumored to be in contact with his agency is the Baltimore Orioles.  They are rumored to only have $10 million left in their budget after the signing of Yoon, though, and that is probably not enough to sign Cruz, but after waiting this long it may be enough to sign Morales.

Ervin Santana, Kansas City Royals

Santana has had a lot of teams interested in him this offseason, but none of them have turned out to be serious so far.  He is, though, the one who is getting the most serious attention from the Orioles.  Now that the O's have signed Moon they too may be less apt to go our of their way to add another starter, taking another potential suitor off of the list. 

Like Jimenez, it is likely that Santana will have to wait until a team gets desperate right before the season.  If he is a lucky, one of the big teams that have said they are done with starting pitching, I.E. the Rangers or Angels, may jump at Santana if he lowers his price and not only give Santana a job, but a shot at playing for a winning franchise.