Nick Markakis Signs With Atlanta
By Gerald Tracy
31-year-old, two-time gold glove winner Nick Markakis and the Atlanta Braves have agreed to terms to bring the free agent to Atlanta for the next four years.
Buster Olney of ESPN reported earlier that talks between the Atlanta Braves and outfielder Nick Markakis were heating up and that he was hearing about a deal that could be around four years and worth around $45 million.
Welcome Nick Markakis to Atlanta! The two-time Gold Glove OF has agreed to a four-year deal with the #Braves.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 4, 2014
Buster Olney is really good.
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The team announed earlier Wednesday night that the free agent and them have agreed to the deal. Markakis was in Baltimore for all nine years of his career but the team recently decided to not pay his $17.5 million option, but opted to pay him $2 million to leave instead.
His last season in Baltimore was one of his worse, hitting for a .276 average, 14 home runs and 50 RBIs, his least amount of RBI in his career.
Although his bat was not as good as it usually was this past season, his fielding was as good as ever. In 149 games, 147 at right field, he was not credited with a single error, keeping his total errors for his career at 18.
He also seems to be from the Atlanta area, so it’s a sort of coming home for him, according to the Braves official account.
Markakis graduated from @WoodstockHS1 just north of Atlanta and attended @YH_College in Young Harris Georgia. #WelcomeBackNick!
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 4, 2014
Markakis will try to help the Braves fill the spot that was left empty after they traded away Jason Heyward to the Cardinals. He’s never made an All-Star game, but it’s possible he could be looking to join the list this year.
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