Brave gardener Nick Markakis has chosen not to play this season, manager Brian Snitker announced to reporters this morning (Twitter link via Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). In doing so, you will give up this year’s $ 4M salary and the year of service you would otherwise have accrued.
Markakis himself tells reporters that there were multiple factors that ultimately led to his decision (Twitter links via Burns and Mark Bowman of MLB.com). Markakis says a conversation with Braves star Freddie Freeman, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, was crucial. “That opened my eyes” Markakis said. “It didn’t sound good.” Playing in the absence of fans was also a notable factor in his decision to stay out of the season.
Markakis, 36, has spent the past five seasons with the Braves, serving as a veteran mentor and guide through a rebuild that has seen the Atlanta organization return to perennial contender status in the National League East. Although he is no longer the elite outfielder at his peak, Snitker described Markakis this morning as “the backbone of our club,” a nod to the veteran’s influence and his position in the clubhouse.
Markakis has surely given a lot of thought to the decision, which comes just two days after Freeman, Will Smith, Touki Toussaint, and Pete Kozma tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, teams across the league have been delayed in obtaining Major League Baseball test results, which has resulted in cancellation of training for two teams so far.
More to come.
