January 20, 200917 yr Sources: O's, Markakis reach deal The Baltimore Orioles have rewarded their top young hitter with a long-term extension. The Orioles and outfielder Nick Markakis agreed to a six-year, $66.1 million extension, pending a physical, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.[+] EnlargeRon Vesely/Getty Images Nick Markakis has hit at least 20 home runs in two of his three seasons with Baltimore. The deal was first reported by The Baltimore Sun. Sources told Olney that Markakis has escalator clauses that total another $7.5 million and also receives a limited no-trade clause. He and the team have a mutual option in the seventh year. Markakis, 25, hit .306 last season for Baltimore, leading the team. He has hit at least 20 home runs in two of his three seasons and has a .299 career average in 465 games with Baltimore. It's the second-biggest contract in Orioles history, behind the six-year, $72 million contract Miguel Tejada signed with the club in 2003. Tejada was traded to the Astros before last season. Markakis was eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason. Markakis was selected by Baltimore with the seventh overall pick in the 2003 amateur draft. The 25-year-old has a .299 career batting average and has not played in fewer than 147 games in any of his three big league seasons. His best season was in 2007, when he batted .300 with 23 homers and 112 RBIs in 161 games. Markakis gives the Orioles a combination of speed, power and defense. Besides possessing a strong arm and impressive first-to-third speed, he stole 10 bases and had a .491 slugging percentage. On Aug. 22, 2006, Markakis hit three homers in a game -- the 18th Oriole to accomplish the feat and the first since 1999. In other news Monday, the Orioles obtained minor league pitcher David Pauley from the Boston Red Sox for right-hander Randor Bierd. The 25-year-old Pauley went 14-4 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 starts with Triple-A Pawtucket in 2008 and is 56-52 with a 3.92 ERA in 177 minor league games over eight seasons. He went 0-1 with an 11.68 ERA in six games with the Red Sox last season. Bierd was 0-2 in 29 games with Baltimore in 2008.
January 20, 200917 yr Author I've been pretty critical about the O's the past couple of years. But this is a good move. Finally, the Baltimore fanbase get a little bit of good news from this horrible ownership. Good for them.
January 20, 200917 yr I think his numbers are pretty comparable to youks in BOS but he only got 40 Mil for 4 yrs I think but hes slightly older so maybe thats why he got less. The O's got a pretty good young OF goin on now with Pie, jones, and markakis.
February 2, 200917 yr Good for Him this Guy is a stud and Hopefully Baltimore can build solid talent around him beacuase they haven't been in contention for years
February 3, 200917 yr After incentives he could earn more than Hanley's 6-year $70 Million deal. If I were him I'd be kissing my agent, because Markakis is great, but he ain't no Hanley.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.