I’d probably rather have Markakis at 4/$40-50m than Ethier at 4/$71m (if the Orioles trade for him and play him, he’ll likely vest that last year option), but I don’t think payroll has room for both of them and either way Baltimore’s probably making that question academic with how close the Markakis talks are to completion. I’d rather the Orioles focus on getting rid of the contract for veteran roleplayers with less upside and shorter deals instead of getting back another risky, long bad contract. It might mean losing the trade if Ubaldo turns things around in his new home and becomes worth his $12m/year salary, but there’s no guarantee of that same outcome if he stays.