ATLANTA (AP) — Moving to fill an outfield void after the trade of Jason Heyward, the Atlanta Braves agreed Wednesday to a four-year contract with free agent Nick Markakis.
The Braves probably aren’t done dealing, either.
The 31-year-old Markakis spent the first nine years of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. This past season, he batted .276 with 14 homers and 50 RBIs while winning his second Gold Glove.
The deal is contingent on Markakis passing a physical. Terms were not announced by the team, but multiple reports indicated it was worth $44 million.
Heyward was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals last month in a four-player deal that brought pitcher Shelby Miller to the Braves.
It was the first major trade by new general manager John Hart, who said the team was unlikely to sign Heyward to a long-term contract and didn’t want to risk losing him as a free agent after the 2015 season.
Mets’ Harvey willing to accept limits on starts
NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Harvey wants to make sure he’s on the mound in late October — if the New York Mets get there for the first time since 2006.
Coming back from Tommy John surgery, New York’s ace says he is willing to accept extra days off between starts or even skipping turns in the rotation in order to be available for the postseason.
“I don’t think it’s going to be easy to skip starts,” he said Wednesday in the Mets clubhouse. “I don’t think any pitcher is going to want to really do that. But to be able to pitch in October is going to be more important.”
Twins announce $10.5M deal with Torii Hunter
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — When Torii Hunter first came up to the major leagues in 1997, Paul Molitor was bringing a Hall of Fame playing career to a close with his hometown Minnesota Twins.
Molitor could still swing the bat, and the impression he made on a talented group of youngsters, including Hunter, helped lay the foundation for the long-struggling team’s renaissance.
Almost two decades later, Hunter is returning to Minnesota, his home away from home, to play for Molitor and return the favor.
“This is where I needed to be,” Hunter said Wednesday after signing a $10.5 million, one-year contract with the Twins. “This is home for me.”
Seattle sends Saunders to Toronto for Happ
SEATTLE (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays hope they found their starting left fielder in Michael Saunders, while the Seattle Mariners hope J.A. Happ will be another left-hander for their strong starting rotation.
The Mariners sent Saunders to the Blue Jays on Wednesday in exchange for Happ, with the trade filling needs for both clubs. The Mariners were hoping to add another arm for their pitching staff while the Blue Jays got a potential replacement for free agent Melky Cabrera in their outfield.
“We’ve been talking about Saunders on-and-off for years at various times. (Seattle GM) Jack (Zduriencik) and I have talked a ton and we could just never come close to an agreement,” Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos said. “We think there’s upside with the bat. He’s already a pretty good offensive player and we love the fact that we can have that plus a defensive guy on a corner as well.”
Oklahoma City Triple-A team becomes Dodgers
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City RedHawks are now the Dodgers.
Mandalay Baseball, LLC, a joint venture between ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers and an investor group led by Mandalay Entertainment Chairman and CEO Peter Guber, says the team’s new logos and jerseys will mix elements of Dodgers history and the culture of Oklahoma City and Bricktown. The team will also come up with new mascots before the 2015 season.
The group purchased the franchise in September. Oklahoma City will be the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate in 2015.
Braves agree to 4-year deal with OF Nick Markakis

