Nick Markakis Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Star OF

Nick Markakis had become a popular name on the free-agent wire in recent days, with the odds of the 31-year-old returning to the Baltimore Orioles slowly dwindling. 

Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun reported on Wednesday, Dec. 3, that Markakis has agreed to a four-year deal with the Atlanta Braves.

Continue for updates.

Wednesday, Dec. 3

Braves Reportedly Sign Markakis to Four-Year Deal

Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun reports Baltimore has been informed of Markakis' departure:

Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan first reported the deal.

Tuesday, Dec. 2

Braves Meet With Markakis, Blue Jays and Giants Also In the Mix

Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun reports on one team who has met with free agent Nick Markakis:

"

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez and other team representatives were in Maryland on Monday and had dinner with Markakis at a Monkton restaurant Monday night, according to a source. It appeared to be more of a get-to-know-you session than negotiations, the source said. John Hart, the Braves’ new president, apparently was not there.

"

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported on the Braves and other teams interested in Markakis:

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Veteran outfielder Nick Markakis, who seemed for a while to be a pretty good bet to return to the Orioles, is listening to outside offers now and said to have interest from the Braves, Blue Jays and Giants, among others.

Atlanta is an interesting entry since Markakis grew up in Woodstock, Ga., went to Young Harris College and has a home in Georgia (as he does in Maryland). The Braves traded right fielder Jason Heyward and are listening to offers for another top outfielder, Justin Upton, so there definitely is room for Markakis.

Toronto has been lurking for a while, as it hopes to add at least one outfielder, with Melky Cabrera and Colby Rasmus both free agents.

San Francisco could go a number of different ways, and its participation may depend to some degree on what star free agent starter Jon Lester, who had a visit with Giants brass Monday, decides. Some suggest Markakis may be more likely to stay east -- though at one point Baltimore seemed almost like a forgone conclusion, and it's not now.

"

Monday, Dec. 1

Less Than 50-50 Chance Markakis Returns to O's

Nick Markakis' tenure with the Baltimore Orioles may be coming to an end, according to Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun:

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According to multiple sources, there now looks to be less than a 50-50 chance that the 31-year-old will return to the Orioles, something that seemed to be a virtual certainty a month ago.

Shortly after free agency began at the end of October, Markakis and the Orioles were involved in serious negotiations on a four-year deal worth roughly $10 million to $12 million annually. But at some point in mid-November the negotiations grinded to a halt, and there have been only a few conversations since then.

(...)

Although the specific holdup is not known, there has been some talk within the Orioles organization that the club is no longer comfortable with a four-year deal for Markakis. If that’s the case it would explain why the negotiations have halted, since it is believed the sides had agreed to the length of the contract early on in discussions.

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Sunday, Nov. 30

Orioles "Lining Up Alternatives" If Markakis Doesn't Re-Sign

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported on the Orioles' potential option if Markakis doesn't return: 

Sunday, Nov. 16

Blue Jays Reportedly Considering Markakis

Fox Sports' Jon Morosi reported the Blue Jays' interest in Markakis:

Thursday, Nov. 13

Markakis, Orioles Continue Talks

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has an update on Markakis' talks with the Orioles:

"

The Orioles and longtime outfielder Nick Markakis are in talks again, and there seems to be optimism again to get a four-year deal done.

Talks were rekindled here Wednesday between Orioles GM Dan Duquette and Markakis' agent Jamie Murphy after about a week's break, and serious progress was said to have been made. There was a lull in talks after the sides were reported to have been making progress a week ago, but it is hard to envision Markakis, a beloved Oriole, leaving at this point.

"

Wednesday, Nov. 12

Outfielder Nick Markakis had never played for an MLB team other than the Baltimore Orioles, but that will changed with the outfielder heading to Atlanta.

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Baltimore was the likeliest landing spot for the soon-to-be-31-year-old with the AL East rival Toronto Blue Jays lurking behind:

Markakis is a nine-year MLB veteran who is coming off a 2014 season in which he won a Gold Glove Award and hit .276 with 14 home runs and 50 RBI near the top of Baltimore's potent lineup.

News of the Orioles' continued interest in Markakis came not long after the team decided to decline its $17.5 million option on him. Despite that move, O's executive vice president Dan Duquette made it clear that it didn't mean the end of Markakis' tenure, per Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun: "Nick is a dependable player and the O's would like to continue (their) relationship with him."

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Orioles and Markakis had been working through potential sticking points in pursuit of a multiyear contract:

Markakis may not be a superstar, but he is as reliable as they come. He has never hit worse than .271 in a single season, and he has played in at least 155 games in seven of the past eight seasons.

He had been through good and bad times with Baltimore, and it will be odd for Orioles fans to see Markakis donning the Braves uniform.

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