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

zbhargrove said:
We have no clue if they intend on playing Gattis in LF... December just started last I checked, and the FO is never going to come out and say, "oh yah, we are going to trade that guy".... or "No way we will put him in LF, he'd be awful." That'd be just plain retarded.
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John Hart has said the Braves intend Gattis to be in the outfield moving forward. And we all know how much of a straight shooter Hart is.
 
I think this is a bad deal that's likely to look really ugly within a year or two. We might get a normal Nick Markakis season out of him in 2015, but that's nothing terribly impressive, and I suspect that by mid-2016 we'll be looking at another Uggla situation, if not quite as awful.

What's really frightening here is that it seems apparent the front office thinks Markakis and Heyward have approximately the same on-field value. They're probably high-fiving themselves because they think they just replaced Heyward with someone every bit as good AND added Miller and Jenkins on top of that.

I was a defender of Schuerholz during his GM tenure here, but he always did seem to have an issue understanding aging curves and decline dynamics. And he always did have an Ahab-esque willingness to relentlessly pursue players over the course of years. I can't shake the idea that this signing is almost as much about loving Markakis in the draft years ago as it was what he's actually accomplished since.
 
bravesnumberone said:
John Hart has said the Braves intend Gattis to be in the outfield moving forward. And we all know how much of a straight shooter Hart is.
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What we should have done was get an elite corner outfielder in left to compliment Heyward in right and put Gattis in center.
 
Assuming JUp is traded for cheap players, the bench is filled with cheap-ish players, and including BJ and Uggla, the payroll currently sits around ~$86M.

There is certainly still room to add to the offense. I see no reason Hart can't bring in a LHed platoon partner for CJ and someone other than Cedric Hunter to take over in CF.

CB $0.5

Freeman $8.5

Peraza $0.5

CJ $6.0

Simmons $3.0

Markakis $11.0

BJ $14.5

Gattis $0.5

C $2.0

Goss $0.5

Terdo $0.5

Hunter $0.5

LHer $1.0

Teheran $1.0

Wood $0.5

Minor $6.0

Miller $0.5

Hale (Walker?) $0.5

Kimbrel $9.0

Johnson $1.6

Shae $0.5

Avilan $0.5

Varvaro $1.0

Russel $2.5

Viz $1.0

Uggla $13.0

total $86.6
 
Enscheff said:
Assuming JUp is traded for cheap players, the bench is filled with cheap-ish players, and including BJ and Uggla, the payroll currently sits around ~$86M.

There is certainly still room to add to the offense. I see no reason Hart can't bring in a LHed platoon partner for CJ and someone other than Cedric Hunter to take over in CF.

CB $0.5
Freeman $8.5
Peraza $0.5
CJ $6.0
Simmons $3.0
Markakis $11.0
BJ $14.5
Gattis $0.5

C $2.0
Goss $0.5
Terdo $0.5
Hunter $0.5
LHer $1.0

Teheran $1.0
Wood $0.5
Minor $6.0
Miller $0.5
Hale (Walker?) $0.5

Kimbrel $9.0
Johnson $1.6
Shae $0.5
Avilan $0.5
Varvaro $1.0
Russel $2.5
Viz $1.0

Uggla $13.0
total $86.6
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I see them adding a veteran pitcher as well. Someone like Peavy. It's obvious that veteran white dudes are important to the good Ole boys club lol
 
Oh, great, now some (predictable) medical concerns: http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a...ave-persuaded-orioles-to-let-him-leave-120314

Let’s go to the MRI.

In March 2013, Markakis, 31, was diagnosed with a small disc herniation in his neck. And even though he appeared in 160 and 155 games the past two seasons, his condition and diminished power gave the Orioles pause, according to major-league sources.

The Orioles, under Angelos, have a history of quashing agreements due to medical concerns. They never struck a deal with Markakis, but as recently as last month it appeared a foregone conclusion they would retain him.

Instead, Markakis will join the Braves, pending a physical. According to a source, the Braves have no concerns about Markakis’ neck – they viewed a report from a specialist who performed an independent evaluation of him, and expect him to be 100 percent for spring training.

Orioles general manager Dan Duquette declined comment.
 
Julio3000 said:
Well, apparently the new/old regime is into Greek.
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The Braves front office...

The+Wire+Season+2+(2003).jpg
 
Hawk said:
Oh, great, now some (predictable) medical concerns: http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a...ave-persuaded-orioles-to-let-him-leave-120314

Let’s go to the MRI.

In March 2013, Markakis, 31, was diagnosed with a small disc herniation in his neck. And even though he appeared in 160 and 155 games the past two seasons, his condition and diminished power gave the Orioles pause, according to major-league sources.

The Orioles, under Angelos, have a history of quashing agreements due to medical concerns. They never struck a deal with Markakis, but as recently as last month it appeared a foregone conclusion they would retain him.

Instead, Markakis will join the Braves, pending a physical. According to a source, the Braves have no concerns about Markakis’ neck – they viewed a report from a specialist who performed an independent evaluation of him, and expect him to be 100 percent for spring training.

Orioles general manager Dan Duquette declined comment.
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Lovely!
 
For the record, potential better options: Colby Rasmus on a one or two-year make-good contract, Michael Saunders from the M's, especially since the Jays just got him for Generic Soft-Tossing Lefty 7A. If you start the "what-if" conversation before the Heyward trade, either one is fine to play center instead of BJ. If you start the conversation after the Heyward trade, either one is a better investment for right field than Markakis. Hell, even after the Heyward trade you can pick up both and make a real high-upside run at 2015.

A lineup with Freeman, Upton, Gattis, Heyward and Rasmus/Saunders, with a Teheran-Wood-Minor top of the rotation can do some serious damage. Instead, we're going to win somewhere between 78 and 84 games next year. And instead of getting to watch Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and Evan Gattis, I'm going to get to watch Nick Markakis and Christian Bethancourt.
 
nsacpi said:
It is not the worst plan in the world. But I would have gone a different direction, focusing more on moving a bad contract even if it meant sacrificing some assets or up front money. I think there is a dog that hasn't barked that no one is focusing on, which is that Hart's plan is betting heavily on a bounce back year by one of Melvin or CJ. It is the unstated gamble. Not a terrible gamble, but I would prefer to cut my losses if at all possible. Maybe there is no market at all for Melvin and CJ. Only those in the know would know.
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So somebody (Lets call him Hohn Jart) sets you up on a date with hot Kate Upton....only catch is, you have to also date her sister, smelly fat Kate Upton. But he'll pay for that date. Do you take the deal?

I think trading hot Kate is his only chance at getting rid of smelly fat Kate. Or maybe she could hook up with Creepy Rob Lowe.
 
bravesnumberone said:
Considering he played almost no outfield in 2014, I'd say it means something.
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He actually played zero OF in 2014... but not really. If you want to maximize someone's value... make sure you let the public know you're comfortable with him playing multiple positions... this isn't rocket science. Hart also said that we could still sign Justin Upton... do you believe that as well? It just turned December... we have no clue what's going to happen... and Gattis in LF is far from a sure thing.
 
The thing about Markakis that makes this a safe bet is that he's simply a good overall hitter, unlike BJ or Uggla. Even in his bad 2013 season, he still managed a .270 average and a .329 OBP. While those aren't eye popping #'s, those are still above average for basically any position. Sure the power is pedestrian, but we can still work with a .329 OBP even if that is worst we could expect. Even if you are the gloomiest of posters and you believe this is the sort of production we should expect, then it's still nothing compared to the Uggla and BJ level of suckitude,
 
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