ATLANTA -- The Braves have not ruled out the possibility of re-signing Nick Markakis this offseason, but they chose not to extend him the one-year, $17.9 million qualifying offer before Friday's deadline.
Markakis was the Braves' only free agent who merited at least consideration for this offer, which has to be made for clubs to receive compensation if the player signs with another team, under the rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
If Markakis had received the offer and signed with another team for $50 million or more, the Braves would have been awarded a pick between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A of the 2019 MLB Draft. If he signed elsewhere for less than $50 million, the compensation pick would have come after Competitive Balance Round B, which follows the second round.
Markakis seemingly wouldn't have had much reason to debate whether to accept the qualifying offer. The outfielder now hits the free-agent market hoping for something similar to the $11 million salary he drew over each of the past four seasons with Atlanta.
Whether the Braves become potential suitors for Markakis will depend on how they fare over the next few weeks searching for an outfielder capable of adding more power to the lineup.
Markakis earned his first All-Star selection in 2018 as he produced a .877 OPS during the season's first half. But his .701 OPS in the second half created concerns about the veteran, who will turn 35 on Nov. 17.