Nick Markakis signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the Braves on Wednesday to be the right fielder for a team he cheered for as a teen in Woodstock. The nine-year veteran played his whole career with Baltimore before becoming a free agent and joining the Braves, two days after manager Fredi Gonzalez and assistant general manager John Coppolella flew to Maryland to have dinner with him.
Markakis met with Atlanta media Friday to discuss signing with the Braves after negotiations with the Orioles stalled. “I’m glad to be here,” he said. “It’s the place I grew up. I watched the Braves for a long time. It’s a new chapter in my life.”
Q: What made you decide to sign with the Braves?
A: I think the biggest thing is the comfort level. Besides being a place I grew up and a (team) I watched for many years, they made me feel like I was home. I think that was real important for me and my family. They took good care of us. They're good people over here, and that played a big part in my decision."
Q: For fans who might not have seen you play much, what do you bring to this team?
A: They say it's a kid's game. You've got to have fun. Winning is the main objective here. We've got to have fun playing baseball. I go out there, play hard every day, play the game the right way, do it like it's supposed to be done. … You look back upon it and ask yourself if you did everything you could, and then move on from there.
Q: What do you know about the Braves’ personnel, what do you think about the team?
A: I definitely took the time to look at who was here and what they're going to offer and bring to the table. They've got a great group of guys over here. Good, young pitching staff, position players. I'm sure they (front office) are wanting to do some (more) things; that's out of my hands. But the overall plan and overall big picture is something I was looking for. To come on board here with these guys and what they had so far was kind of a no-brainer, a win-win situation. I'm happy to be part of it, happy to help any way I can.
Q: You have a rep for being a guy who can get a two-out hit or other big hit. How do you approach those situations?
A: That's part of the game, and my philosophy is go up there and battle. That pitcher's not going to have an easy at-bat with me. That's the way I look at it, you just go up there and grind. In this game it's very tough to be successful. If you go up there with the attitude of just battling and having good at-bats and worry about putting the ball in play, you're doing your job.
Q: Did the fact that the team is moving into a new ballpark in 2017 make coming to the Braves a little more exciting?
A: I've always thought this (Turner Field) ballpark is nice. With them getting a new addition in 2017, that's just a bonus. That's not the main reason I came here. I saw what they have on paper and I know what guys they have over here, and the coaching staff, all the way up to their front office. And their fan base — I grew up watching them, so I know their fan base. It's going to be fun.
Q: What memories do you have of watching the Braves? (His family moved from New York when Markakis was 10.)
A: Fulton County Stadium, my parents used to take me there. You know, Chipper (Jones), Andruw (Jones), Dave Justice, (Fred) McGriff and all those guys. (Greg) Maddux, (John Smoltz), (Tom) Glavine — I grew up watching all those guys. It was fun to watch because you watch those guys, and they do things the right way. That's what they preach over here in this organization.
Q: What family do you still have in the area?
A: I've got my immediate family, my parents and my brothers. And then just friends from growing up. Up in the Woodstock area, Canton area, Cartersville.
Q: Was coming here something you had thought about for the last couple of weeks, did it move faster in the past week or so?
A: It's not something I was really looking at, it's just something that kind of happened. Things just didn't work (with Orioles), and I couldn't be happier being here.
Q: Have you had a chance to talk to any Braves players since signing?
A: No. Actually I just saw Evan Gattis over when I was getting my physical, so I had a chance to meet him. Big, strong boy, I'll tell you that.
Q: Any thought to possible added pressure of coming home to play?
A: No. I had an opportunity to be here, and I know what the Braves have and what they have to offer here, and what the Braves are all about. It's something that you definitely look for when you're deciding on a team. … The way they handled the whole situation, it was first class. Made me and my family feel real comfortable. Those are things you look for when you make a commitment to a team for multiple years.
Q: How would you describe yourself as a player, what should fans expect?
A: I can tell you this, I'm going to go out there and play hard every day. In my mind there is no off day. … If you don't have fun it can be tough — it's a long season, 162 games plus spring training. We're together for a long time. You've got to have good chemistry, we've got to get along together. And I don't think that's going to be a problem.
Q: Did Fredi Gonzalez or John Coppolella say anything in particular the other night that maybe sold you on this decision?
A: No, I don't think it was one thing in particularly that was said that sold me. I think the overall appearances and the overall conversation, with everything — they were ecstatic to have me. It's a good feeling. It just felt right, and I'm happy to be here.
Q: What did you like about the team the Braves will field?
A. The five guys that they’ve got in their starting rotation was enough for me to be convinced. They’ve got a great pitching staff, and we all know this is based around pitching and defense. With those guys on top of your rotation, I wouldn’t say it makes it easier for us hitters, but if they do their job allows us to relax a little more and score runs in tight situations. And what a great group of young pitchers that this Braves organization and this city has coming for the future. They should be excited about it. I am.
Q: Are you prepared to assert leadership on a young team?
A. Absolutely. There’s ways to do things right, and there’s ways to do things wrong. We’ve just got to pick the right things to do.
Q: You have a house in Maryland, but you’ve also kept a house here right?
A. Yeah, I have a house here. Up around Cartersville.
Q: You’ll wear No. 22, after wearing 21 in Baltimore. (Warren Spahn’s No. 21 is retired by the Braves.)
A. Can’t take it away from that man (Spahn).
