RADIO
Nick Markakis 2019 Outlook: Veteran Outfielder Unlikely to Repeat His Career Renaissance
6 years agoNick Markakis had himself the best season of his career since 2012 last year. Playing in all 162 games, Markakis made the most of his opportunity to hit cleanup for the Braves in a contract year. In addition to exceptional plate discipline (11% K%), Markakis had a solid .318 BABIP, but an unremarkable 8% HR/FB. Those factors contributed to a .297 BA along with 14 HR. Aside from the high BA, Markakis’s 2018 fantasy value—specifically, R and RBI—can be attributed largely to hitting cleanup. That said, Markakis’s .297 BA was driven by a reduction in K% from 16% in 2017 to 11% in 2018, not an unsustainable lucky BABIP. Markakis re-signed with the Braves, where he is expected to hit 5th. 2019 will be his age 35 season and typically plate discipline declines around that age, so it would not be a surprise to see his BA/OBP drop. The durable Markakis is a solid 5th outfielder that can provide value at the end of the draft. But due to his age, the low HR, and total lack of SB, his fantasy upside is quite limited, and no one would blame you for targeting higher-upside options in the final rounds.
