I know the O's are looking for 2nd/pitching help. Any possibility we could get Markakis from them? Not familiar w/ his contract situation, though. Something involving Kinsler or Holland?

$30M over the next two years is pretty steep. Not gonna happen.

I think their ask is going to be higher than I'd want to pay for a marginal improvement over Cruz. Unless your plan is to keep him in right, Gentry/Martin in CF, and Cruz/Murphy in LF & DH, I'd say no - and that plan hinges on getting rid of MY and his contract which probably isn't going to happen. I think JD is content with bringing him back with an understanding he'll have a reduced role and just hope for a Jeter-esque bounce back season.

Why would you want him?

Good, but not great, hitter. Two years of being a bad fielder. Two years on the contract for a total of 32 million, including buyout. I think we can get a player on the FA market better then Markakis for 16 million, or use that 16 as the base for a much better player then Markakis.

If the O's want to trade him then they have to fund him at about 5 million a year to make him palatable, much less someone who would bring back a haul. I'm just not very interested.

Like I said, didn't really know his contract situation. Just thought it might be a way to move Kinsler & his contract.