Report: Orioles will decline Markakis' option

[MrOrange82]

Lough can give similar value for 510K.

You're not wrong, but gross.

[Can_of_corn]

You're not wrong, but gross.

That is who Nick Markakis is now.

[scOtt]

That is who Nick Markakis is now.

I think Nick is more valuable with the bat, but Lough might make up for it with his speed and D.

[Can_of_corn]

I think Nick is more valuable with the bat, but Lough might make up for it with his speed and D.

Right his speed and D make up for Nick's slightly superior bat.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Lough-Jones-De Aza-Machado-Hardy-Schoop-Weiters... that would be a great defensive team if nothing else.

[TonySoprano]

I did know that. I just assumed that he would be the one feeding Heyman the info. Probably too cryptic a reference to be of any value.

It wasn't cryptic. Everyone knows Heyman is a cheap Boras shill.

[oriole]

Lough can give similar value for 510K.

That seems like a bit of a stretch, doesn't it? I know Lough started coming around with the bat and he has the ability to make some nice plays but I think you're selling Markakis short here.

[MrOrange82]

That is who Nick Markakis is now.

Eh, even so, I think counting on similar production from Lough, in the aggregate (i.e., glove offsetting the bat), would be a mistake. He's never played in more than 112 games (this year) or recorded more than 335 ABs (last year) in a single season. I'm assuming he was in the minors for such a long time for a reason, and I'm further assuming that Lough looking lost as a semi-regular early this year wasn't a mirage.

You can make the argument that virtually any level of production from Lough is better than Markakis at $10 million+ per year, but that doesn't mean you're definitely making the team better by going the cheap route. Lough's an undesirable, modest gamble, IMO.

[Guest]

Colby Rasmus would be a cheap fix to RF in 2015. Dariel Alvarez is almost ready for the bigs too.

[MrOrange82]

Colby Rasmus would be a cheap fix to RF in 2015. Dariel Alvarez is almost ready for the bigs too.

I wouldn't call him a fix...or even cheap, necessarily.

[DrungoHazewood]

That seems like a bit of a stretch, doesn't it? I know Lough started coming around with the bat and he has the ability to make some nice plays but I think you're selling Markakis short here.

It is, because you can't just extrapolate Lough to play to his career marks in 700 PAs. He would likely be worse (at least with the bat) because there's no more platooning him or spotting him in situations where he's likely to succeed. As a full time player he'd be facing everyone, LOOGYs, Chris Sale, all of them.

Yes, you could mitigate some of that by pinch hitting and platooning. Which you could also do with Markakis, if you thought it would help.

[weams]

Colby Rasmus would be a cheap fix to RF in 2015. Dariel Alvarez is almost ready for the bigs too.

I like you as a poster. And not as a GM.

[MrOrange82]

It is, because you can't just extrapolate Lough to play to his career marks in 700 PAs. He would likely be worse (at least with the bat) because there's no more platooning him or spotting him in situations where he's likely to succeed. As a full time player he'd be facing everyone, LOOGYs, Chris Sale, all of them.

Yes, you could mitigate some of that by pinch hitting and platooning. Which you could also do with Markakis, if you thought it would help.

Markakis' biggest weakness isn't hitting. Regardless, platooning him would only strengthen the financial argument for Lough.

[DrungoHazewood]

Colby Rasmus would be a cheap fix to RF in 2015. Dariel Alvarez is almost ready for the bigs too.

I think the primary difference between Rasmus and Markakis is that we haven't spent the last six years wondering why Rasmus didn't become a superstar. Otherwise they're just league average free agent outfielders.

[Guest]

I like you as a poster. And not as a GM.

Just look at the free agent OF in 2015 it's a hot mess.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/02/2015-mlb-free-agents.html