Horsehide Harry
<B>Mr. Free Trade</B>
It galls me that people want simply evaulate Markakis for his full season of 2015. The first two months, he was quietly (not making waves) getting his strength back from a very invasive neck surgery that could have easily ended his career or stunted his season. But he played 156 games, had over 40 extra base hits, nearly 180 hits and reached base over 250 times. I want that in my lineup moving forward.
If he's a short stop, sure. But, since he's not, and since the Braves were Dead Last and by a remarkable 20% in HR hit last year, you have to try to find some power (now and moving forward) and the best place to find that is the corner OF spots (along with 3B). Since Olivera is likely limited to LF, then that means the Braves can't afford to carry Markakis as a limited power producer in RF. And really, why should they under any circumstances? They are rebuilding. Markakis is a guy that if you can get anything at all for, you move.