12:13 PM: According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the players’ association plans to appeal Profar’s suspension.
11:15 AM: Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that he will receive a second PED suspension and will be suspended for 162 games. Profar’s first PED suspension came early last season, when he was suspended for 80 games. He will miss the entire 162-game season in 2026 after failing a second test, and faces a lifetime ban if he tests positive in a future third test. Profar will miss his $15 million salary this season and he is now ineligible for 2026 postseason games and the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Profar, who turned 33 a few weeks ago, is entering the second season of a three-year, $42 million contract. Last year’s suspension cost him just under $6 million of his $12 million salary in the first year of his free agent contract. He is signed through the 2027 season and is due back at $15 million in salary in the final year of his contract.
As a teenager, Profar was rated as the best prospect in the entire sport. A switch-hitting shortstop with a combination of power, speed, and defensive ability, he was praised as a future star, but multiple shoulder injuries derailed his career. He barely played the entire 2014 and 2015 seasons due to shoulder surgery.
The returning version of Profar looked much different. He hit .227/.316/.315 in 377 MLB plate appearances from 2016-17 and had a solid offensive season in 2018. His defense at shortstop was no longer tenable due to shoulder issues. Profar spent time at second and first base before being traded to the A’s, who had just one disappointing year before trading him to the Padres.
Profar had an uphill climb in San Diego. He salvaged the batting lineup after a poor start to the shortened 2020 season and a grueling three-week finish to the 60-game season. A favorite player of Padres GM AJ Preller (who signed him as an international amateur while he was an assistant GM of the Rangers), Profar signed a three-year contract after that season, but failed with a .227/.329/.320 slash in the first year of the deal. He passed up his chance to opt out and returned to San Diego for the 2022 season, netting $6.5 million to test the open market again, with a better offensive performance.
The FA was cold on Profar that winter. He signed a $7.75 million contract with the Rockies just before Opening Day 2023. Colorado released Profar after he hit .236/.316/.364 in 111 games. He re-signed with San Diego for the remainder of the season and performed well in 14 games later that year. Profar was hit by free agency all offseason before the Padres signed him to a one-year, $1 million deal that seemed like the steal of the offseason as he hit .280/.380/.459.
That performance prompted a three-year, $42 million contract from the Braves, but he will now forever be met with a healthy dose of skepticism. Profar missed 80 games last year, hit .248/.358/.446 in 355 plate appearances upon his return, and now won’t get another plate appearance until at least 2027. Of course, it remains to be seen whether the Braves will welcome him back or move on entirely.
That question doesn’t need to be answered for the time being. Profar could be placed on the restricted list, not on Atlanta’s 40-man roster or without salary. Not only would the Braves save Profar’s $15 million in salary, they would also avoid the 20% tax they paid on him as a team beyond the luxury threshold. This amounts to $18 million in overall cost savings for Atlanta, which presents an interesting possibility for the Braves later in the offseason.
Atlanta has had a pair of notable injuries to its rotation. the right wing Spencer Schwellenbach and hurston world rep Both had elbow surgery to remove loose bodies/bone spurs. It’s not yet clear when they will return, but Schwellenbach is already on the 60-day IL and Waldrep will surely follow.
Now the Braves are left chris sale, spencer strider, Reynaldo Lopez (Last year, he made only one start due to shoulder surgery) grant holmes (who suffered a UCL injury last summer and rehabbed it without surgery) is in the top four of the rotation. Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, Didier Fuentes and Jose Suarez He is the fifth starting option on the 40-man roster. Invitees not included on the list include veterans. Martin Perez, Carlos Carrasco and Elyser Hernándeztop prospect JR Rich.
Notable veterans such as: Lucas Giolito, Jack Littell and Tyler Anderson He remains unsigned as a free agent. Of course, Atlanta’s outfield group took a hit following the Profar suspension, but here are the team’s November signings: Mike Yastrzemsky This means that the Braves are not necessarily like that. necessary To add another outfielder. Yastzemsky, Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuña Jr. Acuña has had injury issues recently and Yastrzemski is dealing with a long-term platoon issue but could start on most days. Right-handed hitter ellie white and Jorge Mateo Although they’re already listed as potential complements, neither has an average track record against left-handed pitching.
Atlanta still projects to be just north of the $244 million luxury threshold, but the front office has a sudden influx of cash they can use to acquire additional help, such as another starting pitcher or a veteran right-handed bat to plug into the lineup. Time will tell whether those funds are used immediately or saved for in-season roster additions. However, the Braves immediately become a team to watch when it comes to potential offseason additions.
