Markakis would be a very solid signing. We aren't going to ever be able to get a superstar in any sense unless you're living in a fairy tale.
"But, he's 31"... so? Tons of good players last well into their later 30s playing above average baseball. I know most people are scared because of Uggla, but they shouldn't be. Markakis is a much better athlete than Uggla was and he's a very different kind of player. Markakis is an on base/contact guy... Uggla could do two things... walk and homer. And then he couldn't homer anymore... completely black and white example.
"WAR"... who gives a crap about WAR? Its an awful statistic and puts way too much on defense. If you're going to sit here and tell me Jason Heyward was a better player than Markakis on offense, you are ridiculous. Yes Heywood has the potential to be a much better offensive player, but there were no signs he was progressing that way and he wasn't ever going to be on our team after next year anyways, no matter what you believe.
"Using injuries as an excuse for Markakis at the end of 2012 and 2013 is a weak argument"... Okay, but using injuries as an excuse for Heyward for a couple of years is completely valid? I swear, Heyward homers love double standards.
Out of all the limited, realistic options... Markakis is probably one of the most attractive and would be a good addition to the club depending on the rest of the off season. Miller, Jenkins, and Markakis with all the money saved and all the years of control is much more attractive than Heyward for 1 year... and if you can't see that, you cannot be reasoned with.
I loved Heyward too, but I'm not blinded by him... he's simply not near as valuable as some of you want to believe.