Braves' Markakis to undergo neck surgery Wednesday

The ink is barely dry on Nick Markakis's new deal with the Atlanta Braves, but the 31-year-old outfielder is already headed for surgery.

Markakis, who spurned the Baltimore Orioles earlier this month in favor of a four-year, $44-million offer from the the Braves, is scheduled to undergo fusion surgery Wednesday to repair a herniated disk in his neck, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The procedure is expected to alleviate the discomfort that has plagued Markakis for the last two seasons - he was diagnosed in March of 2013 - and the two-time Gold Glove award winner should be ready for most, if not all, of spring training.