Nick Markakis, Baltimore Orioles optimistic after restarting talks

There’s renewed optimism in Baltimore that the team will be able to complete a new four year deal with Nick Markakis, keeping the outfielder an Oriole. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports that the two sides have restarted talks and believe that a deal will get done.

The team’s decision to decline Markakis’ option for 2015 had long been anticipated. While valuable – he batted .276/.342/.386 this past season while winning a Gold Glove – Markakis wasn’t producing enough to warrant a $17.5 million salary for the upcoming season. The team would decline with the hope of re-signing him at a lower rate and that appears to be exactly what we’re facing.

Reports surfaced a week ago that the two sides were discussing a four year deal, but talks seemed to quiet down a few days later. Some reported that there had been a stall in discussions, allowing Markakis’ agent, Jamie Murphy, to meet with other clubs at this past week’s GM Meetings. Heyman notes that GM Dan Duquette and Murphy met on Wednesday and made “serious progress” towards a deal.

Yahoo!’s Jeff Passan noted that the two sides are talking about a deal that will pay Markakis $10-12 million a year.

There were numerous teams that were expected to have interest in Markakis this winter on the open market, but there has always been a general sense that he’d prefer to remain with the only club he’s ever known. Markakis has spent his entire nine year career in Baltimore. He’ll be 31 next Monday and the Orioles appear to be a team that will remain in contention moving forward. There’s little reason for him to want to leave.