Nick Markakis opts out of 2020 season

Not long after I finished my blog post this morning about how the weekend wasn't good for the Braves, news came out that right fielder Nick Markakis has chosen to opt out of the 2020 season. Markakis joins Felix Hernandez as the two Braves players to opt out as of today. 

Markakis said he was excited to get back to playing baseball, but after he talked to teammate Freddie Freeman, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, he decided it would be best for him to skip this season. Markakis also cited the health of his family, which consists of his wife and three young kids, as a reason for opting out. 

The 2018 All-Star added that playing without fans was a big blow for him and that it would be tough to play without them there.

It's now up in the air whether or not Markakis comes back after the 2020 season. The three-time Gold Glove winner joined the Braves in 2015 after spending nine seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. He's a .288 career hitter with 2,355 hits over his 14 years. 

In 2018, Markakis had one of the best years of his career, batting .297 with 93 RBIs and 185 hits, earning an All-Star bid for the first time. 

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