Peter Schmuck weighs in on the suspension of bargaining between the Orioles and Nick Markakis:

Both sides say they'll wait until they're closer to arbitration to resume bargaining. I think, in this uncertain economy, that's risky for both the player and the team. If you've read me over the years, you know I generally side with the player on this type of thing, and I think I am in this case, too. I just think Nick is playing a game of chicken with way more downside than up.

It looks like at the moment the Orioles are offering Markakis between $60 million and $65 million for six years. That buys out his first three years of free agency. Nick is a very good hitter and is just about to enter his prime, so we should see some improvement. I'd take $40 million for four years, then hit the free agent market at age 29 instead of 31. Nick should pull in a pretty good price tag at that point.

The only real downside for Markakis is arbitration. I suspect he'll do very well there, and if he has to take the Orioles that route three seasons in a row, he'll hit free agency right at 28, in the middle of his peak years. I bet the economy is a lot better then, and the long term contract he signs at that point make the current Orioles offer look weak. The only downside for Nick, in that case, is a career impacting injury.