Six years at $60-70 million?! Sounds like a bargain to me. Why not make it an eight year deal at that rate? Clearly Markakis is a keeper, a potential offensive and defensive cornerstone of this franchise for years to come.

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Well, with that logic, why not make it 12 years? The reason you don't get carried away with the years is because there are no guarantees that the player stays healthy the whole time. If he doesn't and you're stuck for 10 million a year for two or three of those years, that's another quality player you can't afford to buy. If Nick continues to improve, you can rip up that contract after four years and give him six more if you want, but committing to eight or nine years doesn't make any real sense.

I have faith in the sound reasoning of all--Angelos, Markakis, MacPhail, and Murphy--and trust that for the good of the Baltimore Orioles and their fans Nick will be signed to a long-term deal.

If you can get Markakis for $10 million a year, you have to take it. That's a bargain, it shuts up the detractors, i.e. 'same old O's, even when they develop talent-they lose it' and its one of the few off-season moves the O's can control. I know there is no rush, but getting it done sooner than later is something the fanbase deserves.

I would love to see the O's lock up Nick for the next 6 to 7 years, but I am not going to panic till arbitration comes. I still feel that the Rios deal is what the O's should offer, but it takes two to dance.

Pete, are you a Renteria fan at this stage of his career? I look at Izturis to be on par with Castro in the field, but a better avg. and the ability to steal. I would think he would be more in line with the solid defense that Dave is looking for.

Pete, do you know if the O's have any interest in Bobby Abreau? Abreau has a gun for an arm, power, hits for avg. and plays every day. I've always liked his game and love the idea that he and Nick, can pretty much throw any would be base runner out. A good idea when George is out there in the 9th. I know he would be switching to LF, but I like the idea of a set OF without platoons. I see Luke as the full time DH and spell Huff at 1B.

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I'd be fine with Izturis or Renteria. I think both would be major upgrades. I don't see Abreu coming here. That's a lot of money to buy a right fielder and switch him to left.

I certainly hope we arent about to endure several years of a Markakis contract dispute and a subsequent bad divorce. This is probably what would have happened in the past but with McPhail now in charge I have faith something will get done. I think its critical to the O's future

This is BS, Pete! If the Orioles and Andy blow this extension with Nick, I will quit being an O's fan after 54 years!

My gosh, WHATEVER number the Orioles sign Nick to today will look like a bargain in 3 to 4 years down the road with the way the salaries have been escalating year over year.

What if another comparable to Nick signs for $80M, $90M or $100 M, then he will obviously use that higher comparable than the Ramirez number.

C'mon Andy, sign BOTH Nick and Brian to long-term deals and stop penny pinching. Then let's go out and be aggressive getting the other pieces of the puzzle put together and put out a major league team, not one that would be hard to compete at the Double A level.

Eleven years of this crap IS ENOUGH!

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I just have to ask. I don't know if you're married, but if you are and your wife wanted a certain car, and there was only one on the lot, would you tell the salesman, "I don't care what it costs, I'll take it?" That's essentially what you're saying the O's should do with Markakis. There is a right number in each market. If you give Markakis $20 million too much, you handicap yourself in another areas and drive up the overall baseball salary scale, which ultimately benefits the Yankees and Red Sox. I'm pretty sure the O's are already close to six years for $60 million, which would be a very fair offer to a guy who made $455,000 last year.

Pete, I'm dazed and confused. I thought when McPhail was hired we could do away with low bid high bid tactics and finally see Oriole management openly embrace a fan favorite and budding superstar. You mention the "comparables" are gate receipts and sales of sporting gear included in that equation also. No GM wants to be looked upon as fiscally irresponsible, however, we're not talking about any the steroid babies. This is a guy groomed through the system and definite impact player.Regardless of any economic recession or depression, major league sports makes money. So why don't they do it right the first time and send a positve message to players and fans alike.

...............................................................................................
Pete's reply: See my previous answer. I think Nick is a very good player, but you don't negotiate a contract based on the fact that the fans want to get the guy signed in December rather than in February. The money matters on several levels. I'm not worried. They'll get him signed at about $63 million for six years and that will be the right number.

We dont know how much the O's offered to Nick. But if I have to decide between Angelos and Markakis as being more reasonable, I will go with Nick everytime. Almost every other franchise can sign their young cornerstone players without much drama at all. The O's are the only exception.

The O's will find a way to screw this up and are well on their way. I'd like to know why any fan should trust the Orioles under Angelos considering the deal he has with MLB? Angelos is guaranteed to have revenues equal to or better then what he averaged before the Nationals arrived in DC. So basically he could field a team of players making the major league minimum, have 5000 fans a game, and major league baseball will make up the difference and fill his coffers. All this and I haven't even mentioned the deal he has regarding MASN. He has a cash cow here whether he tries or not. No wonder he stopped caring about the Nationals coming to DC. It's easier for him to make money with them around.

Idiots. IDIOTS! Waiting the six weeks will just cost them more. Crazy money will be spent on some free agents, none of whom are really better than Markakis. Even Teixeira - Markakis hits fewer HR but more doubles, they are both gold glove material, and Markakis is several years younger and more likely to get better. It can't help in the Brian Roberts negotiations, either.

While I don't know what they offered him, it should have been the Rios deal as a starting point. Markakis is a more valuable player. By most stat-head metrics he was in the top 5 in the AL. And he's young!

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Wouldn't be surprised if they offered close to the Rios deal.

I appreciate your politically correct article.
History. Last year the O's and Markekis touched base on an extension and Nick was left with a bad taste from the process. Now the O's play hard ball with their "center peice".
The O's want to be the Rays going ahead. But the Rays locked up their talent long term last year. What am I missing here? They did a pre-emptive strike and made the generous market offers to have a relationship of organization and players. What am I missig here?
BRob and Nick with Jones and Guthrie represent the future. Seems the organization needs to learn a lesson in inter-personal skills and relationship building techinques. Yes it is a business. Satisfy the core group. You satisfy the market of other players you want. Image is perception. Perception is everything. Oh yes the perception of the past is the O's do not pay for talent. What am I missing? Is this perception the same for now and the future? What am I missing?
Make the process simple and easy for the core and you make a action statement. That is speaking loudly!
Actions speak louder than words.

...............................................................................................
Pete's reply: If we're going to compare apples and oranges, let's look at the Rays. They guaranteed Evan Longoria $17.5 million and have options that would make the deal worth $44 over nine years. The O's are believed to have offered Nick between $50 and $60 million over six years. Do you think Nick is a more valuable player than Evan Longoria? Of course, these contracts are based on risk analysis related to the player's service time, which is why Longoria gets way less in his first year than Nick in his fourth. But if you're going to accuse the O's of playing hardball by offering to make Nick the highest-paid player on the team and also compare them to the Rays, then I think it's fair to put it in this admittedly illogical context.

Sign him yesterday! Overpay him. Take a gamble (which I like the odds) on a 6 year 60 million dollar contract. No brainer. Course it's not my money.

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I think the O's are willing to sign Nick at that price. I also think that it's natural for his agent to see if the market spikes and sets him up to get more. I don't think there are any villains here....yet.

yada yada yada.
There is always a plausable explanation for the Orioles' behavior and the always field a lousy team. They will stink as long as Angelos owns them.

Am I the only one who thinks McPhail is the master at dithering and moving slow? Every article during the Hot Stove season seems to paint a picture of Andy making the calls, having "discussions" and then nothing getting resolved. While no one wants to see a Yankee-like GM who just throws money everywhere, McPhail would benefit the team if he picked up the pace a little bit.

Make a play for Burnett or Teixera ( a real play, not just having "discussions with their agents"), throw a serious offer at B-Rob and Markakis. Sign us some pitching. Stop dithering and start doing something.

Heck, Mr. Rogers was a faster decision maker than McSnail!

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Obviously, MacPhail isn't the only one "dithering," since nobody has signed those guys. Is it possible it's the agents who aren't ready to move?

I actually think that Nick waiting to see what happens with this season's free agent class is going to help the Orioles case. I am expecting to see most players settle for less then the recent market would dictate. I also expect baseball to become more like the NFL where rookies are brought in rather then pay marginal veterns more money. This is going to cause a lot of vets, folks like Payton and Millar for instance, to be on the outside looking in come next season.

All that being said, why did they wait till last week to exchange figures with Nick's people? A matter like this an offer should have been on the table no later then Nov. 1st, compared to other dealings this is a simple matter and the peception that this is high priority for the O's could have been helpful.

.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I'm not sure that -- if you're really trying to improve the team -- Nick's contract was that big a priority on Nov. 1. Nick is tied to the club for three more years. They need to get it done, but the sense of urgency should be directed toward upgrading the pitching staff through trades or free agency.

Obviously, the fans here are on Markakis's side about the extension but there is always more than meets the eye on this. There's really no panic by waiting another month or so. We'd all like to see him locked up long-term as it will be one less worry but if I'm Markakis I want to make sure I'm getting the best deal possible. He's actually making some kind of sacrifice by agreeing to forgo some free-agency years and the O's are obviously concerned as well about the financial side. They don't have to extend him but I'm sure if they do it fairly both sides 'win'.
As always, there are WAY too many who always put a negative spin on these type of negotiations.

This is how the O's lose players and other players don't want to come to Baltimore. Sign Nick and Brob to extensions and the players will come. Common O's, spend some money. I'm tired of being laughed at wearing my hat and I'm tired of being last. (O's fan since 1970)

The Orioles have two full years to worry about an extension before Markakis even gets close to free agency. Who knows where the economy is going in that time? Player salaries appear to be about to enter a downward correction period, and that may or may not continue next year. The O's should not feel pressure from the fan base to give Markakis a long term contract, at least not until 2010.

The O's MUST sign Markakis to a long-term deal. Nick is one of the foundation pieces for the future of this team and a face of the franchise. They already upset him by renewing his contract last year for $455,000. Let's not forget...he's human and his feelings get hurt, just like the rest of us. Ultimately dragging him through arbitration will do more harm than good. At some point, the O's will tick him off enough so that he won't want to sign long-term and he'll walk after 2011. What's the old expression? Penny wise and sense foolish! Andy & Peter...please...SIGN NICK LONG-TERM!

So let me get this straight, the Orioles are willing to trade one of the top second basemen in the league for an unproven outfield prospect who has all the makings of a hyped up bust but they aren't willing to pay a young, proven, home grown outfielder who lead the league in outfield assists (17), hit 20 homers and batted .306, drew almost a hundred walks (99), and only committed three errors all year?

Why would they be basing his contract off of Hanley Ramirez anyway? Ramirez is: A. A short-stop, B. Not the same kind of hitter (he hit 33 homers, but only drove in 67 while Markakis hit 20 and drove in 87).

And, on top of all of that, why have The Orioles been worrying about locking him up for a long term deal since last season? The last time I checked, four years (the length of remaining contract when these talks started) was a long time. Offer him arbitration, Markakis isn't the kind of guy who is trying to bankrupt the O's and then not play when he gets his money like other outfielders do to other clubs (see Manny Ramirez).

He's definitely worth $10 a year. He's proven, has room to grow with another young bat in the line-up (Tex) and if the team is competitive can steal more bases as Trembley was very aggressive early in the year when the team was competitive.

Whatever Markakis signs for, in 5 years, actually the way things are going more like 2, it will be a bargain anyway. Substitute instrangigence with imcompetence and you are closer to the mark.

The longer they go with no extension, the more likely it is Nick will wait it out and go to the Yankees or Red Sox for $100 million.

Pete, you are definitely a Schmuck! :-)

Pete, Glad to see you made it back from the former USSR--and you don't know how lucky you are. I'll bet you a heaping bowl of borscht the O's don't sign Nick to an extension this winter. No. make that a fifth of Nikolai. If I were Nick, I'd wait another year to gauge the direction of the franchise. But then, if I were Nick, would I be sitting here typing these silly little notes? Hell nyet!

Why would Markakis sign now. It's to his advantage to see how the market plays out the next couple months. And I bet he wouldn't sign for too long so that he can get another big contract in his early 30's--who knows what the salaries will be 6 years from now. From the Orioles standpoint, you can't overpay everyone or eventually, you won't be able to afford anyone else. The two sides will eventually figure it out.

I think the Orioles have been pretty fair to their players. They've lost a few over free agency but what team (besides the Yanks and Sox) hasn't.

Lastly, does anyone ever look at the players we've gone after and whiffed (Paul Konerko, Carlos Lee, etc) and see how they've impacted their teams? Even Teixiera--for all his attributes--hasn't won.

I think the only way the Orioles are going to win is by being deliberate and build the team up from the ground up. I give MacPhail all the credit to taking a steady, smart path.

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: You're right on a lot of counts, but I think there could be a downside in Nick waiting to sign. The economy is in the tank and there's no guarantee that free agent salaries shoot up again. There's also the risk of injury either on or off the field, so a $60 million guarantee should look pretty good to him.

so the orioles have nick markakis under their control for another 3 years. and feel they don't need to hury to sign him to an extenion.this kind of lolly horsing around appears to be more of a hindrance than a help to the team.the contract extenion for nick markakis should have been done and over with long ago.

The Oriole FO has earned every bit of skeptisism and sarcasm that has been bestowed upon them when it comes to contracts.

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: So, you are blaming Andy MacPhail for failing to re-sign Mike Mussina?

Patrick-

Getting nothing resolved? Wow, all that exuberance over the whole 10 player steal that he pulled last year wore off fast.

You can't expect a tactician to change his stripes just because an incredible player becomes available. I would anticipate that Andy will most likely take his time, evaluate his options, evaluate the market, and then make an offer consistant with what he sees as being reasonable.

It's not like playing madden where you can just throw gobs of money at a player and worry about the payroll later.

There's no point in overpaying for Markakis if he stays at about the same level he is now. If he continues to improve then great, but if not, then we've just overpaid for a Joe Carter type. Always around .300, always around 20hr/80+rbi's, not necessarily a top flight player, but consistant and reliably better than average. Is that a player you want to have locked into a contract that you significantly overpaid for? It's a player you want to have, but at a price thats reasonable. Overpaying Markakis at this point would be similar to rookies in the NFL getting monster salaries. Sure, he's a 4 year vetaran, but we shouldn't be paying him like a perennial all-star just yet.