Braves' Markakis on Orioles: 'Don't believe a word they say'

Nick Markakis is burning bridges on his way out of Maryland. 

The former Baltimore Orioles outfielder agreed to a four-year, $44-million deal with the Atlanta Braves this offseason, spurning the team he'd spent his entire nine-year career with. 

Markakis appeared a lock to re-sign with the O's in November before talks fell apart, and he acknowledged the breakdown was due to the team's concerns regarding an impending neck surgery.

"Don't believe a word they say," Markakis told Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. "It was all because of my neck. They can say what they want to make them look good. It's all B.S.''

The signing caught former teammate Adam Jones by surprise at the time, who said the Orioles must have had something else planned after not signing Markakis. However, after Baltimore failed to allocate that money elsewhere, Jones would appreciate an answer from the team following Markakis's comments.

"If (the neck) the real reason he's not here, I hope someone can man up and say it," Jones told Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun. "Let's say it when everybody wants to know then and now. It always comes out later."