My big beef is that the corner outfield spot is supposed to be a power/production spot. I would have no problem with Markakis if he was a 2B/SS/CF or even a 3B piece. But we need production and we need a place open to get that production in there. I hate to think that we have a traditional power spot tied down for 4 years by someone with no power when we have zero power elsewhere as well.
I get this, but regardless of what specifically he brings to the table, I'll take wins any way I can get them, and he's been worth 1.4 WAR in RF this year. That's fine with me. The overall lack of power is a bit of a concern, but we have to be realistic in what we can bring in. I would be shocked if we went out and signed Heyward, Upton, or Cespedes whether we're paying Markakis or not. And even if you signed Cespedes, you're going to have to absolutely shell out in both years and money, and you're getting, at the beginning of the contract, a 30-year-old who already routinely posts an OBP near or even under .300. I'd rather have Markakis for the next 3 than Cespedes for 6 or 7.
And after those guys, there's not much. Gordon may exercise his player option, and he'll be 32.
We know 1B, SS, and 2B are filled for next year. Throw Markakis in, and you also have either a LF or RF. So here's what I would go after at the rest:
CF - bring back Maybin unless you get either a serious prospect or a guy who can start for you at 3B or C, also waiting on Mallex
Corner OF - see if you can sign someone to a sensible shorter deal, a la Chris Young, move Maybin over if Mallex is ready
3B - Peraza is an option, a guy like Freese or Uribe could possibly be signed to a shorter deal
C - Wieters or possibly Jaso on the FA market
Outside of those options, we're probably going to have to trade for an answer. I just don't see us breaking the bank in free agency when there aren't more than a couple of good options out there anywhere. I wouldn't be opposed to going after Heyward, even though he's going to be extremely expensive. It would move Markakis to LF, give us another guy who can get on base and also has some pop, and help our OF defense quite a bit. It would also give you some flexibility to move Maybin.
But if you don't like the options presented above, then you're going to have to be willing to move some real prospects for answers. I just don't see how getting rid of Markakis really helps us. He's a decent piece for us right now and should be for at least another year or two moving forward, and the money we would free up by moving him wouldn't necessarily help us that much considering what is available.
