The Atlanta Braves signed Nick Markakis to a four-year, $44-million contract Wednesday, a deal that could spell the end of Justin Upton's tenure with the club.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Braves have already received strong offers for the 27-year-old and a deal could come together at next week's winter meetings. The dearth of impact talent available via free agency, meanwhile, will likely motivate suitors to increase their respective offers for Upton, a two-time All-Star.
Though president of baseball operations John Hart suggested last month he's not trying to trade Upton, the club's addition of Markakis makes the former first-round pick increasingly expendable as he's poised to become a free agent after the 2015 season.
Numerous teams are expected to contend for Upton's services, but Dave Cameron of Fangraphs suggested the Braves could look to swap Upton for right-hander Taijuan Walker of the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners may be looking to trade the 22-year-old after acquiring left-hander J.A. Happ on Wednesday.