MLB Free Agency: The Biggest Reason Top Remaining Free Agents Are Still Unsigned

With the big chip named Prince Fielder having finally fallen, there are still a few impact players on the free-agent market who could make a difference in the coming season.

For one reason or another though, those players have remained on the market to this point and are still without a home in 2012 as of the writing of this piece.

Here is a look at the biggest reason why each of these players remain on the open market, as spring training is inching ever closer.

Casey Kotchman

Reason: Regression Candidate

The Angels' first-round pick in the 2001 draft, Kotchman was once one of the top prospects in all of baseball, appearing on the Baseball America Top 100 list four years straight from 2002-2005 at no lower than 22nd.

After bouncing around and having limited success with the Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves and Seattle Mariners he found a home last season in Tampa and hit .306 BA, 10 HR, 48 RBI over 500 at-bats.

However, at 29 years old, teams have approached with caution, as his breakout season could very well have been a fluke.

Javier Vazquez

Reason: Mulling Retirement

After a terrible season with the Yankees in 2010, the Florida Marlins (now Miami Marlins) took a chance on Vazquez with a one-year, $7 million deal last offseason and he rewarded them with a 13-11 record, 3.69 ERA and 162 K's season.

That likely would have been enough to earn him a bigger contract in 2012, but he looks to be leaning towards retirement as the 35-year-old has had a solid 14-year career.

Manny Ramirez

Reason: Facing 50-Game Suspension

After what looked to be a sad end to an impressive career in which Ramirez went 1-for-17 in five games with the Tampa Bay Rays last year before testing positive for PEDs and retiring, it now looks as though he is ready for a comeback.

The 40-year-old will be forced to miss the first 50 games of the season for whoever he signs with, and despite that he has still received interest from teams, most notably the offense-starved Oakland Athletics.

Vladimir Guerrero

Reason: Age

Guerrero has had a phenomenal career, and with some significant milestones within reach he has indicated that he intends to keep playing. 

After a bounce-back season in 2010 in which he hit .300 BA, 29 HR, 115 RBI, he struggled to just .290 BA, 13 HR, 63 RBI over a full 562 at-bats last year.

Still, if he is willing to come down significantly from the $8 million he made last season he should be able to find a home somewhere in 2012.

Derrek Lee

Reason: Team Specificity

After signing with the Baltimore Orioles last offseason, Lee was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the deadline and enjoyed a solid 28-game stretch in Pittsburgh hitting .337 BA, seven HR, 18 RBI.

The 36-year-old has garnered some interest from teams, with the Pirates showing interested in bringing him back early on in the offseason. However, he is looking for the "perfect situation" and could wind up retiring if he doesn't find the right fit.

Rich Harden

Reason: Injury History

Saddled by injuries throughout his career, Harden managed just 15 starts last season and posted a less-than-impressive line of a 4-4 record, 5.12 ERA and 91 K's.

When healthy, he still has some of the best stuff in the league, and despite his poor numbers he managed impressive peripherals of 9.9 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9.

He has generated some interest as both a starter and reliever, and at just 30 he will likely get another chance to turn things around in 2012.

Johnny Damon

Reason: Age

The 38-year-old Damon is coming off of a solid season in which he hit .261 BA, 16 HR, 73 RBI with 19 SB on a one-year, $5.25 million with the Tampa Bay Rays.

He still has something left in the tank, and is chasing 3,000 career hits, entering the season with 2,723 for his career.

He will more than likely catch on somewhere as a DH, but at his age teams aren't exactly lining up to sign him.

Edwin Jackson

Reason: Contract Demands

Thanks to the fact that Scott Boras is his agent, Jackson has been largely avoided to this point in the offseason, as he was originally seeking an annual salary in the $15-17 million range.

However, his asking price has since come down and it was recently reported that the Boston Red Sox have made him an offer, so he may be off the market soon.

The 28-year-old helped the St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series after coming over from the Chicago White Sox at the deadline last season. He has played for six teams during his nine years in the majors and could be set to join his seventh.

Yoenis Cespedes

Reason: Awaiting Residency in Dominican Republic

Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has as much hype surrounding him as any international position player since Hideki Matsui, and after a long process of gaining residency in the Dominican Republic, he was finally granted free agency.

With legitimate five-tool talent and the ability to contribute right away for whoever signs him, Cespedes has garnered plenty of interest from teams, and it looks as though the Miami Marlins and Chicago Cubs are the front-runners for his services now that the Detroit Tigers signed Prince Fielder.

Roy Oswalt

Reason: Back Problems

Oswalt had his $16 million option declined by the Philadelphia Phillies at the start of the offseason, and despite being among the top free-agent arms on the market he remains unsigned at this point.

Aside from the fact that he is 34 years old, Oswalt is coming off a season in which he was limited to just 23 starts due to lower back problems. That has been enough of a red flag that Oswalt has dropped his asking price to one year, $8 million, and if he can stay healthy he may be the steal of the offseason for whoever signs him.