By: Tim Kelly, Managing Editor 
Though the Atlanta Braves have the least amount of wins in the National League, they have managed to beat the Phillies on back-to-back days, setting up a chance for a sweep Sunday afternoon.
According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Braves also have a piece that the Phillies could potentially be interested in, with the club apparently keeping an eye on outfielder Nick Markakis.
Teams such as the Royals and Phillies are also looking at Atlanta’s Nick Markakis, though the money is an issue there, especially with the Royals.
Money isn't an issue for the Phillies in the sense that it is for teams like the Royals, though that doesn't mean the team is eager to add money onto the books just for the sake of doing so. Markakis, 32, is in the second season of a four-year/$42 million deal, and is scheduled to make $10.5 million in each of the next two seasons.
The Phillies could certainly afford to take on Markakis' deal for the rest of 2016, though it's fair to wonder if they would have interest in having him beyond this season. With Aaron Altherr expected to return either late this season or early next season, coupled with Nick Williams and Roman Quinn leading a deep outfield class in the Phillies farm system, it's hard to envision a fit for someone like Markakis past this year. So the Phillies could afford Markakis, but they may run into issues if they decided to trade him at some point in the future.
Markakis is hitting just .257 with one home run and 24 RBIs in 40 games this season, but he has hit 13 or more home runs seven times in his career and he batted .296 just a season ago. So while he isn't the player he once was in Baltimore, Markakis would represent an corner outfield hitting upgrade if the Phillies are still in the race for the playoffs later this summer. It's hard to imagine a trade getting completed without the Braves eating a portion of his remaining money, however.
