Atlanta Braves Should Trade Nick Markakis Now
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves are focusing on a youth movement along with opening up future payroll. With those two facts in mind the Braves should do everything they can to deal Nick Markakis this off-season.
Despite what he has brought to Atlanta, if your the Atlanta Braves now is the time to deal Nick Markakis. Trading a player is rarely easy and that will be the case with Nick Markakis for many reasons.
Markakis is of a rare breed in the fact that he does his job does it well and leads by example. He will never say the wrong thing on camera or show up his team on the field. He is the consummate professional that everyone likes to have on their team.
Even with that in mind it is time for the Braves to deal Nick Markakis and move on to better options. While that may seem like a contradiction despite all of his best qualities there is also no denying that he is starting to age and his production has suffered because of it.
Markakis struck at the highest rate he has since his third year in the League nearly a decade ago add in limited power and declining speed in right field and the Braves need to look at trading Markakis in favor of a better fielding option.
It is fairly clear that the Braves are not going to make a big push to contend this season instead opting to trust the process and stick with their young core. If that is the case Markakis should be dealt for any return that could better the Braves future.
With a young and exciting infield the Braves could opt to add a speedy better fielding outfielder to their team or look to move up and coming prospect Ronald Acuna to right field and opt to add a power option in left. Both things that Markakis lacks at this point in his career and that the Braves need.
Giving Lane Adams a shot at a starting job wouldn’t be off the table either with how well Adams played last season in a reserve role seeing what the young outfielder could do as a starter would be well worth a try in what could be another lost season.