Detroit Tigers: 10 Free Agents to sign heading into the 2021 season
By Bob Heyrman
Outfielder: Nick Markakis
The Detroit Tigers are indeed in the market for an outfielder. If they’d rather have another rental-type player on a one-year deal like they did last season with Cameron Maybin, veteran right fielder Nick Markakis is the perfect candidate.
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Nick Markakis is a professional hitter, and the 37-year old could be a player the organization could flip at the trade deadline for future assets. At this point in his career, Markakis is a cheap left-handed bat that can be plugged in at the top or bottom of the lineup.
The 15-year veteran hit .254 last season in 141 plate appearances with the Atlanta Braves, where he’s spent his last six seasons. Markakis enjoyed his most productive years in Baltimore from 2006 to 2014.
Markakis is a career .288 hitter, and he’s driven in 1,046 runs along with hitting 189 career home runs. While the power isn’t there anymore, Nick plays a solid right field and usually provides his team with a good at-bat. Nick has only struck out more than 100 times, four times in his career.
The Detroit Tigers need an everyday right fielder, a left-handed bat, and someone that can work the count. Nick checks all the boxes, and he won’t cost more than $4-millon on a one-year deal.
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It would be an under the radar signing, and probably one fans wouldn’t be excited about due to his age, but Markakis could be Maybin-Esque but from the left side of the plate.