Braves sniffing around on Markakis; Official 4 years 44 million.

[BremanFan88]

My cat killed a mouse yesterday. That was awesome. I can't find the remains of said mouse, that's not awesome.

Cats are the only animal that hunts for sport.

[The Chosen One]

There's gold... and then there's platinum.

[BremanFan88]

Thank you. She was my first pet. I'll remember her forever.

We're going to need pics when you get a new baby kitten.

[Dalyn]

[thethe]

We're going to need pics when you get a new baby kitten.

Oh I got pics already. A mother abanoned two boys in my backyard recently. Not sure if you've ever had two kittens at the same time but the amount of fun is exponentially larger than just one. I'll upload some in a few days. We need a cats thread now!

[Hawk]

If we're looking broadly at the current market for outfielders in baseball then I believe a decent case can be made that the Braves signed Markakis at-value. Where I draw pause is at the question of whether or not this acquisition was ultimately necessary, given the team's position to contend in 2015. If Hart were to keep Justin Upton around Markakis would be a welcome addition at the top of the order and a palatable substitution for Heyward -- especially if you are choosing to accept the assertion that he was demanding $25MM from Atlanta.

However, seeing as how the Braves appear to have no real intention of keeping J. Upton we have to treat Markakis as an integral addition to the roster. And he just isn't - that's not an attack, just an honest assessment of the skills he brings to the table at this stage of his career. I accept that he will help unite the clubhouse and embody consistency across the board, but, again, at a real premium cost to an organization that is resource deficient.

[BremanFan88]

[Dalyn]

[BremanFan88]

Oh I got pics already. A mother abanoned two boys in my backyard recently. Not sure if you've ever had two kittens at the same time but the amount of fun is exponentially larger than just one. I'll upload some in a few days. We need a cats thread now!

Group of kittens are awesome. They are so cute and will also kill stuff. Cat thread FTW.

[nsacpi]

Has anyone said Markakis > Jason?

Is Jason worth 25 mil a year on top of 6 years of Jenkins, 4 of Miller (maybe more if they extend him), and 4 of Markakis at 11ish a year?

Here is my take on your question.

Scenario 1 Heyward at 8 mil in 2015 and 25 mil in 2016-2018. Total projecting WAR of 18 (4.5 per year) for $83 mil.

Scenario 2 Markakis at 44 mil over 2015 to 2018. Total WAR of 5. Miller and Jenkins generate 9 WAR with a total salary of 20 mil. Total WAR from Markakis and Miller 14 at a cost of 64 mil.

Projections for salaries and wins in each scenario are my own. Other people will come up with different projections.

Anyhow on to the last step. Scenario 1 generates 4 more wins but at an additional cost of 19 mil.

The question then becomes whether in today's market you think those 19 mil extra will allow you to buy those 4 wins. I will note that most contracts being signed this season suggest an average market price per win around 9M or so. That would leave us 2 wins better in the first scenario.

This little exercise suggests that it is a closer call than I would have expected. Though I think things tip a little further in favor of scenario 1 when you consider that Jordan Walden was also shipped out. At least for a four year horizon, I like Scenario 1 better. But there is a complicating factor having to do with Jason presumably being signed for longer than 3 or 4 four years at 25M/year. If it is a really long deal it takes us into his declining years.

[BremanFan88]

[Braves1976]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal

#Braves believe they traded one Gold Glove RFer (Heyward) for two controllable SPs and replaced him with another (Markakis).

Braves believe that Chris Johnson is good defensively at third too...

[Dalyn]

[Heyward]

If we're looking broadly at the current market for outfielders in baseball then I believe a decent case can be made that the Braves signed Markakis at-value. Where I draw pause is at the question of whether or not this acquisition was ultimately necessary, given the team's position to contend in 2015. If Hart were to keep Justin Upton around Markakis would be a welcome addition at the top of the order and a palatable substitution for Heyward -- especially if you are choosing to accept the assertion that he was demanding $25MM from Atlanta.

However, seeing as how the Braves appear to have no real intention of keeping J. Upton we have to treat Markakis as an integral addition to the roster. And he just isn't - that's not an attack, just an honest assessment of the skills he brings to the table at this stage of his career. I accept that he will help unite the clubhouse and embody consistency across the board, but, again, at a real premium cost to an organization that is resource deficient.

Fair post, it's a market value deal.

I'll wait and see what they do with the extra money assuming Justin gets dealt now.

[Hawk]

There's gold... and then there's platinum.

Said Andruw Jones about the differences between strip joints in America and Japan.

[Perfect Cell]

If we're looking broadly at the current market for outfielders in baseball then I believe a decent case can be made that the Braves signed Markakis at-value. Where I draw pause is at the question of whether or not this acquisition was ultimately necessary, given the team's position to contend in 2015. If Hart were to keep Justin Upton around Markakis would be a welcome addition at the top of the order and a palatable substitution for Heyward -- especially if you are choosing to accept the assertion that he was demanding $25MM from Atlanta.

However, seeing as how the Braves appear to have no real intention of keeping J. Upton we have to treat Markakis as an integral addition to the roster. And he just isn't - that's not an attack, just an honest assessment of the skills he brings to the table at this stage of his career. I accept that he will help unite the clubhouse and embody consistency across the board, but, again, at a real premium cost to an organization that is resource deficient.

Great post! Ultimately i agree. If the plan, the idea is to contend in 2017 then having an older aging OF take 11m of the payroll will not help at all. If the idea is to contend in 2015 then this aquisition is more than welcome. But i mentioned it in my other post seing the Heyward deal (and the inevitable Upton and Gattis deals) it makes little sense. You either go full on rebuild mode, or contend mode. Going it half way will only lead to failiure.

[Heyward]

Braves believe that Chris Johnson is good defensively at third too...

Wouldnt say he's good, more-so average.

[nsacpi]

Giants wanted Markakis too. What a bunch of losers.

But apparently at a lower valuation than ours.

[BremanFan88]

[Dalyn]