Braves re-sign Markakis to 1-year, $4M deal
The Atlanta Braves re-signed outfielder Nick Markakis to a one-year contract worth $4 million, the team announced on Tuesday.
Markakis is guaranteed $6 million in the deal thanks to a 2020 option worth $6 million that also includes a $2-million buyout. He'll return to an Atlanta outfield that includes Ender Inciarte and Ronald Acuna Jr.
Markakis accepted this contract because he prefers to remain in Atlanta, even though he apparently received more lucrative and longer-term offers from other teams, according to Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports.
The 13-year veteran said his three sons influenced his decision to stay with the Braves, and that he's not bothered by taking less money to do so, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
"I'm not mad at all," he told Bowman. "I play a kids' game and get paid a lot of money. How can I be disappointed in that? Everything works out for a reason."
The Braves, who won the National League East in 2018, had been hunting for a right fielder this offseason and were linked to a number of options, including free agent A.J. Pollock and Nicholas Castellanos of the Detroit Tigers.
Markakis, 35, made his first All-Star appearance in 2018, the final season of a four-year, $44-million contract. He finished the campaign hitting .297/.366/.440 with 43 doubles and 93 RBIs across 162 games.
During his four seasons with the Braves, Markakis has slashed .284/.359/.400 with 158 doubles and 311 RBIs in 636 games.
Atlanta also signed free agents Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann earlier this offseason.