The longer Nick Markakis remains on the open market, the more I wonder if he’ll actually be back with the Orioles in 2015. Tom Davis told us last week on the BSR Podcast that Markakis’ asking price is a bit steeper than the O’s expected it to be and he believes that the club feels like Markakis may not have been worth the $66 million they paid him during the duration of his six-year deal.
Now, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Birds have discussed a trade with the Dodgers that would send Matt Kemp to Baltimore. Rosenthal does add that these talks could be a leverage play to pressure Nelson Cruz or Markakis to re-signing with the O’s.
Per sources, #Orioles also have talked to #Dodgers about Kemp. O’s lining up alternatives if they can’t re-sign Markakis, Cruz and also…
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 30, 2014
…could be trying to create leverage to pressure both into staying. Return of Markakis once appeared a foregone conclusion. No more.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 30, 2014
Kemp’s contract doesn’t seem to be one that the Orioles would be willing to take on. He’ll make $20 million in 2015 and $21.5 million annually between 2016-2019. Kemp hasn’t had a year worth that money since 2011, the year he should have won the NL MVP award.