MLB Free Agents 2014 Update: Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners in Tug-of-War for Ubaldo Jimenez

Ubaldo Jimenez is still available on the free agents market, but the veteran pitcher will sign a contract before the opening of the 2014 MLB season, reports on Sunday indicated 

CBS Sports' MLB insider John Heyman reported that the Toronto Blue Jays are still the most aggressive suitor of Jimenez, but the Baltimore Orioles and the Seattle Mariners are also planning to make a strong push to sign the 30-year-old pitcher.

Sources said that the Mariners have already touched base with Jimenez in hopes of making another big signing since striking a lucrative deal with second baseman Robinson Cano. The Orioles, on the other hand, are looking to shore up their starting rotation, and adding Jimenez is reportedly their top priority this offseason.

"The Jimenez market has been mostly a mystery since it was said by a source familiar with his situation that he was being pursued by the Jays and two other unnamed teams. One of those teams is likely the Orioles, and another could well be the Mariners," Heyman noted.

Jimenez, who went 13-9 with a 3.30 ERA last season with the Cleveland Indians, is considered as one of the top free agents this offseason, but he has yet to find a taker.

According to sources, several interested teams are still waiting for Jimenez to lower his asking price to around $11-13 million per year. Teams are reportedly unwilling to give in to the asking price of Jimenez because of the draft pick compensation attached to him, which means that the signing team will lose a high draft pick in the process.

Recent reports indicated that Jimenez is planning to wait until the 2014 MLB Draft in June, but one general manager insisted that Jimenez is bound to sign a contract anytime soon along with Ervin Santana, another top free agent who has yet to find a taker this offseason.

"There's been some speculation that one or more of the top free agents may wait through spring training (and maybe even the early June draft) before signing, but one GM said assuredly that that won't be the case with Jimenez and Santana. 'They'll sign,' that GM predicted," Heyman noted in his report.