Baltimore Orioles: Markakis to have surgery

First off, the story about Nick Markakis leaving the Baltimore Orioles will be alive and well so long as folks such as myself keep it going. I recognize that. However Roch Kubatko of MASN published this fascinating article earlier this afternoon. According to Kubatko (who cites FOX Sports), Markakis is going to have to undergo surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck within the next couple of weeks. This was the reason for the Orioles’ hesitation in the contract talks since the end of the season.

Ultimately the bottom line of the facts are still the same: Nick Markakis no longer plays for the O’s. But perhaps a few people might now better

Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

understand the perspective of the Orioles and Dan Duquette. Please understand; this is not in any way a smear campaign against Markakis. He’ll ALWAYS be considered an Oriole, and I suspect he’ll always be beloved by the Baltimore community. However even he is not above medical issues popping up.

At the end of the day, the Orioles still might well have made a mistake in letting him walk – it’s far too early to render judgement on anything that’s happened thus far this off season. However perhaps people might better understand why the Orioles did what they did. That doesn’t make things any easier for the fans, as Markakis was a long-beloved Oriole. However there will be others in the future who give just as much and play just as hard. That aside, there’s only one Nick Markakis, and he’ll always be an Oriole.