Blow to the fan base: Nick Markakis is leaving the Orioles

What seemed very unlikely is now going to happen: Nick Markakis is going to leave the Orioles.

The O's right fielder since 2006 and a first-round draft pick in 2003 will leave the organization after 1,365 games sporting the orange and black.

Markakis has reportedly agreed to a four-year deal worth $44 million with Atlanta. So much for reports he might have had a deal for four years and $48 million from the Orioles.

This will be a gut punch for some fans. Fans that get attached to players for the right reasons and appreciate what they do for the team and in the community. Fans that have backed Markakis for a long time.

While Markakis' stats did fall off in recent years - his OPS was .685 in 2013 and .729 last year - he was a valued member of the team and a clubhouse leader who was respected for his work ethic and talents.

He brought a lot to the team and city. He bought a home in the Baltimore area, but now he is returning to the Atlanta area.

The Orioles have lost their longest-tenured player tonight. He peppered the club's all-time top 10 lists, with these rankings: games (10th,1,365), at-bats (9th, 5,331), runs (8th, 749), hits (6th, 1,547), doubles (6th, 316), RBIs (9th, 658), walks (9th, 553), average (5th, .290), OBP (9th, .358), OPS (9th, .793), total bases (6th, 2,318), and multi-hit games (4th, 435).

The Orioles have now lost Nelson Cruz and Markakis, two starting players, one that led the league in homers and one that won a Gold Glove.

They brought a lot to the table and now the front office is on the spot. What will Dan Duquette do to overcome the losses of Markakis and Cruz?