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

Markakis is not a guy that's going to break the bank. He's very solid reliable bat with above average defense in RF. If we can sign him for $10-$12M and turn Heyward at $8M into Markakis, Shelby Miller, Jenkins for $10M-$12M that's a clear upgrade short term and long term for this team.
 
emk418 said:
Markakis is not a guy that's going to break the bank. He's very solid reliable bat with above average defense in RF. If we can sign him for $10-$12M and turn Heyward at $8M into Markakis, Shelby Miller, Jenkins for $10M-$12M that's a clear upgrade short term and long term for this team.
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This is my feelings exactly. If we get those three total and lose Jason, I believe it's a long-term win for the team. I love Jason and I miss him being a Brave, but I'm very high on miller and love Jenkins upside.
 
Is that an official team photo? Wow. I knew he was an unfortunate-looking fellow, but he looks downright cadaverous there—like sometimes Ryan Langerhans looked like he was in the reaper's clutches? He looks worse. Also, is there a tariff on Photoshop in Canada? Christ, Blue Jays publicity department—touch up some of the worst-looking parts . . . like his hair . . . and his face.
 
Yeah, I have no idea where that turn of phrase came from earlier. Maybe I was still thinking about those pictures of Mark Kotsay's wife.
 
After having gone through this thread... Obviously Markakis does not have the upside of Heyward, but he does provide something very important that the Braves APPEAR to be looking for. Consistency. When Heyward was good (and Justin for that matter) he/they were very good, but they went through periods (weeks and sometimes months) where they would disappear. Guys like Markakis, Saunders, Fowler, and some of the others we have heard in rumors, are not as good during those hot times, nor as bad in the down times. The Cardinals this past year proved that turning over the lineup with guys who get on base with regularity is just as effective as a lineup of guys who are easy outs, except when they hit the occasional big homer.

These guys we are talking about may not have star potential, but nor are they all or nothing type hitters.

I am more hopeful and optimistic about what I am hearing than most of you.
 
mfree80 said:
After having gone through this thread... Obviously Markakis does not have the upside of Heyward, but he does provide something very important that the Braves APPEAR to be looking for. Consistency. When Heyward was good (and Justin for that matter) he/they were very good, but they went through periods (weeks and sometimes months) where they would disappear. Guys like Markakis, Saunders, Fowler, and some of the others we have heard in rumors, are not as good during those hot times, nor as bad in the down times. The Cardinals this past year proved that turning over the lineup with guys who get on base with regularity is just as effective as a lineup of guys who are easy outs, except when they hit the occasional big homer.

These guys we are talking about may not have star potential, but nor are they all or nothing type hitters.

I am more hopeful and optimistic about what I am hearing than most of you.
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Agreed, we just need guys that have good at bats consistantly....all the time....period....part of it is the players and I believe the other part of thes solution is Seitzer, whom I believe will get the potential out of a guy like Simmons. I'm not saying he will be an offensive superstar, but we need to have more quality at bats game after game and the results will speak for themselves in the number of runs and wins, eventually.

Outside of Freeman, and occassionally Heyward and Justin, and early TLS our approach at the plate was awful. Less BJ's and more guys like Markakis are wanted.
 
I rather sign Nori Aoki as he'd be cheaper with probably similar production. Plus Aoki has been a lot more consistent, you can expect an average around .285-.288, OBP .349-.355 and OPS in the .710-.787 range along with 17-30 stolen bases. I like him better all things considered.
 
Braves1976 said:
I rather sign Nori Aoki as he'd be cheaper with probably similar production. Plus Aoki has been a lot more consistent, you can expect an average around .285-.288, OBP .349-.355 and OPS in the .710-.787 range along with 17-30 stolen bases. I like him better all things considered.
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Aoki is also a solid option for one of the corner spots, probably better than Markakis when factoring in the expected contracts of both players.
 
Wouldnt hate Markakis, baseball economics is nuts right now so the money is what it is.

Doubt we get him but we could do worse.
 
Markakis is about the same age Uggla was when we gave him his contract. I would have thought there would be some institutional memory (even with the turnover) regarding multi-year deals for 30something players.
 
nsacpi said:
Markakis is about the same age Uggla was when we gave him his contract. I would have thought there would be some institutional memory (even with the turnover) regarding multi-year deals for 30something players.
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Good point, plus there has been signs of decline from him overall the last few years (including only a .685 OPS playing in Baltimore in 2013).

That said, Aoki makes more sense in that you can likely sign him on both a shorter deal (two years instead of four-to-five years) and cheaper per season rate. Plus we could use a player with such a consistent track record as Aoki has over the last three years.

PS: Based on reported asking price and expected salary per season, Aoki should cost us at least 4 million less a year than Markakis.
 
I think there is more to be said for still productive older players who would take a 1 or 2 year deal over a player in their early 30s looking for more years. I have in mind someone like Tori Hunter. If Alex Rios were willing to take 1 year I'd be interested.
 
nsacpi said:
I think there is more to be said for still productive older players who would take a 1 or 2 year deal over a player in their early 30s looking for more years. I have in mind someone like Tori Hunter. If Alex Rios were willing to take 1 year I'd be interested.
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I agree, I just don't see that happening with Rios. Plus Hunter seems more interested in signing with an AL contender. But I like both Hunter and Aoki at the right price on a 1-2 year deal. I'd even be okay with a team option for a third year on Aoki depending on the AAV.
 
There are also some bad contract corner outfielders or guys caught in crowded outfield situations. I'd talk to teams like the Dodgers, Red Sox, Diamondbacks and Rangers about a possible bad contract exchange or picking up a veteran guy with one or two years on his contract on the cheap. Those are better alternatives than Markakis on four years.
 
Hawk said:
colby-rasmus-2013-mlb-photo-day.jpg
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He couldn't look dumpier if that were an actual mugshot (instead of just meeting all the aesthetic criteria).
 
Hunter has also made it clear that he wants to play for a 'legitimate' contender 2015, a position that the Braves don't figure to be in.

Ryan Ludwick/Josh Willingham are two other possibilities on 1/2 year pacts. The Braves have had interest in both in the past.
 
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