12:13pm: The Players Association plans to challenge Profar’s suspension, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
11:15am: Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar is being hit with a second PED suspension and will face a 162-game ban, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports. Profar’s first PED suspension came early last season, and he was banned for 80 games. He’ll miss the entire 162-game season in 2026 following his second failed test and would receive a lifetime ban if he incurs a third positive test in the future. Profar will not be paid his $15MM salary this season, and he’s now ineligible for both postseason play in 2026 and for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Profar, who turned 33 a couple weeks ago, is entering the second season of a three-year, $42MM contract. Last year’s suspension cost him just under $6MM of his $12MM salary in year one of that free agent deal. He’s signed through the 2027 season and is owed a $15MM salary again in the contract’s final year.
As a teenager, Profar was ranked as the top prospect in the entire sport. A switch-hitting shortstop with a tantalizing blend of power, speed and defensive aptitude, he was hailed as a future star but saw his career derailed by multiple shoulder injuries. He missed nearly the entire 2014 and 2015 campaigns due to shoulder surgery.
The version of Profar that returned looked far different. He hit .227/.316/.315 in 377 MLB plate appearances from 2016-17 before turning in a solid offensive season in 2018. His defense at shortstop had become untenable following the shoulder troubles. Profar spent time at second base and first base before being traded to the A’s, who had him for only one disappointing year before trading him to the Padres.
Profar had an up-and-down run in San Diego. He had an awful start in the shortened 2020 season before a torrid three-week finish to the 60-game season salvaged his batting line. A clear favorite of Padres GM A.J. Preller — who signed him as an international amateur during his days as a Rangers assistant GM — Profar inked a three-year deal following that season but flopped with a .227/.329/.320 slash in year one of the contract. He chose to forgo an opt-out opportunity, returned to San Diego for the 2022 season, turned in a better offensive performance opted out of a net $6.5MM to again test the open market.
Free agency was cold to Profar that winter. He wound up signing with the Rockies just prior to Opening Day 2023 on a $7.75MM deal. Colorado released Profar after he hit just .236/.316/.364 in 111 games. He re-signed in San Diego for the remainder of the season and hit well in 14 games late that year. Profar spent the entire offseason twisting in the winds of free agency before the Padres brought him aboard on a one-year, $1MM deal that looked like the steal of the offseason when he erupted with a .280/.380/.459 batting line in a career-best showing.
That performance prompted the Braves’ three-year, $42MM deal, but it 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 returning, and now won’t take another plate appearance until at least 2027. Of course, it remains to be seen whether the Braves will welcome him back or look to move on entirely.
That question doesn’t need to be answered for the time being. Profar can and will be placed on the restricted list, where he won’t be paid or count against Atlanta’s 40-man roster. The Braves will not only save on Profar’s $15MM salary — they’ll also dodge the 20% tax they’d been paying him as a team that was over the luxury threshold. It amounts to an overall $18MM in savings for Atlanta, which gives the Braves some intriguing possibilities late in the offseason.
Atlanta has incurred a pair of notable injuries in the rotation. Righties Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep both underwent elbow surgery to remove loose bodies/bone spurs. It’s not yet clear when they’ll return, but Schwellenbach is already on the 60-day IL and Waldrep will surely follow.
That’s left the Braves with Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez (who made just one start last year due to shoulder surgery) and Grant Holmes (who had a UCL tear last summer and rehabbed without surgery) in the top four spots of the rotation. Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, Didier Fuentes and Jose Suarez are the fifth starter options on the 40-man roster. Non-roster invitees include veterans Martin Perez, Carlos Carrasco and Elieser Hernandez, as well as top prospect JR Ritchie.
Notable veterans like Lucas Giolito, Zack Littell and Tyler Anderson remain unsigned in free agency. Atlanta’s outfield group, of course, takes a hit following the Profar suspension, although the team’s November signing of Mike Yastrzemski means the Braves won’t necessarily need to add another outfielder. Yastrzemski, Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuña Jr. can start on most days, though Acuña has had his share of recent injury troubles and Yastrzemski has long-running platoon issues. Righty hitters Eli White and Jorge Mateo are already on the roster as potential complements, but neither has even average career numbers against left-handed pitching.
Atlanta still projects to be just north of the $244MM luxury threshold, but the front office suddenly has an influx of cash that could be used to acquire additional help, be it another starting pitcher or a veteran right-handed bat to plug into the lineup. Time will tell whether those funds are put to immediate use or saved for in-season additions to the roster, but the Braves immediately become a team to watch with regard to a potential late-offseason addition.
Was that wrong? Should I not have done that?
What’s this red dot????
Im unemployed and live with my parents.
“I’ve got to plead ignorance on this thing because if someone had told me that this was frowned upon….”
It’s hard to stop. Once you’re in the batters box moving back and forth, back and forth, hips swivelling…
A pinkish hue?
I’m sorry officer, I didn’t know I couldn’t do that
Now there’s a call back
You’ve been living a lie? I’ve been living like twenty.
The Braves we’re angry that day, my friends.
This will NOT be the Summer Of Jurickson.
At my old office, we did that all the time.
Ouch, sorry Braves fans
I think Braves fans are probably happy about this actually
Crappy part is this scumbag already has 10 years of MLB service time, so he will get an MLB pension.
lol relax , big guy
Yeah you get a full pension at 10 years, but only need 43 days of service time to receive a partial pension – can’t imagine it would be much.
I like big needles and I cannot lie
Wow. That is all.
Ooof. Well now they have money to spend on other holes. Like OF/DH.
Harris and Acuna are locks. Looks like they want a platoon in LF with Yaz getting majority of the time. Though, guys can slide into the DH spot too for partial day off. Adding another OF def wouldn’t hurt.
Maybe, depending on who you got. Dubon can get some OF reps when HSK returns, but also, Ben Gamel has looked good in ST.
Tommy Pham is still unsigned.
I feel like Ben Gamel’s entire career can be summed up as “has looked good in ST”
@Verlander —
“He aced the interview, but was then terrible once he got on the job.” Ben’s one of us.
Dubon can play all the positions. No need for him to get reps in the outfield.
And SP.
Well, $15M to use towards a pitcher if you want
What a dope. Pun intended….
LMAO
The Mike Yastrzemski signing makes this much easier to deal with. Good riddance to Profar.
Why, is Mike going to be enhanced too?
Ay no, papi.. again?
You gotta be dumb to do it a second time.
$15 million mistake.
He still has one more to go to match Jenrry Mejia
Giolito, welcome to Atlanta.
Or Zack Littell, come on down!
I can’t wait to hear how Profar tries to deny this one. The fertility drug excuse has been played out so let’s see if he comes up with a new one. At least the Braves are off the hook for his salary.
Yeah, one time I can believe it was a mistake/drug taken at advice of one doctor without consulting the team. Still kind of foolish but believable, especially if you’re working with doctors in different countries potentially. But after the first time there’s no excuse for it. Even if it’s a second “innocent mistake” (which is of course harder to believe) you just can’t let that happen.
Idk. MLB has a list they regularly update with banned substances. Profar has millions of dollars. I dont understand why he wouldn’t take his substances, and that list, and pay a lab to tell him what’s in the stuff he wants to he taking.
I stopped buying into the accidental abuse stories years ago. I dont doubt guys made innocent mistakes, but after watching other guys get suspended for making these mistakes, how are guys not pretesting what they are putting in their bodies? Profar isn’t a minor leaguer or on an arb salary. Hes making real money.
It’s one thing when a guy in A+ ball without money doesn’t know what’s in his supplements. But a man who banked $15m last year and has been through the process before, that man is cheating or too dumb to continue.
MLB teams have people to handle all of this for the players as well. So it’s not like he’s given a list and has to figure it out. Anytime a player takes one of these banned substances, they’re knowingly taking something that hasn’t been approved (whether they know it’s on the list or not). Not that dumb players don’t make dumb choices at times, but the only rational reason to take an unapproved substance is because you’re trying to get an edge and don’t want your team to know what you’re taking.
It is possible for a substance to get in your system from a supplement you didnt think had the substance in it. Its been a long time since I lifted, so perhaps the quality control isn’t what I remember it being, but there were multiple instances in the early 2000’s where products sold at GNC had off label PED’s in them. The shady companies did this so you’d continue to buy their product because it was actually working.
But if you send the bottle out to a lab, they can tell you everything thats actually in it before you take it.
Great points, Saw, but you (probably) and I (definitely) don’t have 15 million incentives to be sure the stuff we take is 100% permissible. This is still on him and under his control as you implied in your last sentence.
Back in the 90s and 2000s (when I lifted) this was more common and why i stayed away from them (aside from vitamin supplements). Nowadays, it’s much less common due to the backlash over PEDs during that time (I’m not lifting now, so it’s possible this has eased over the past couple of years).
That said, they have people at the MLB team to check for them and approve each supplement. So it’s possible (but incredibly unlikely) that a supplement was approved by the team and later became tainted due to poor (possibly intentional as you mentioned) quality control – if that happened in this case (was not the case with his first positive test) then we’ll know shortly (or at least this will be his claim to fight the suspension).
Unlike you or I, no MLB player should be taking a supplement off the shelf and trying to figure out what’s in it – the work is already done for them. If they’re doing this on their own, it’s because they’re trying to avoid someone else knowing about it.
There are plenty of dumb players.
Wowwwwwww
Jenrry Mejia levels of stupid. Don’t understand why guys do this, all he had to do was stay clean. Like he could still be bad but get paid but nope, now he loses 15 mill. Incredible.
Once upon a time Profar was considered to be the future, the next best thing. 13 years ago he was baseball’s top prospect. I have to imagine the temptation to prove you’re not a flop plays into it.
Or maybe it’s just greed and arrogance.
or he’s just that dumb
I understand the temptation given his rookie/1st rounder prowess, and obviously being in such a competitive field must heighten the temptation, but he already signed a major 3 year contract after a standout year (which now, I mean there’s no way he wasn’t juicing then).
He’s not a rookie anymore, you’re now talking about a 32 year old who just set his future up to the tune of 42 million dollars. The arrogance part I get, but I mean, this was most likely gonna be the last big contract he got.
@Sabermetric Acolyte
Professional athletes have an uber competitive drive. See Lance Armstrong.
Good grief what an absolute idiot lol
Wow. Didn’t learn anything apparently. Failed the dumba$$ test at least twice.
He’s done in MLB.
Is Byron Buxton available?
UGH!!! I can’t believe this. So disappointed in Profar.
No, he’s not.
OK, now can they have the savings to go out and get Zack Littel/Giolito, no? Yaz would be getting most LF reps anyway. They can spread DH reps until Murph returns. Ben Gamel has looked good in ST.
Well Atlanta’s suddenly got $15 million to play with
Living large, what a hoot, I’ll start playing on this contract next year fellas. Easy money.
He just really loves juice. Apple juice, orange juice, grape juice, big muscle juice, peach juice.
Maybe his hats are all too big and he wants his head to grow into them
I bet this means Zack Littell can finally get signed
I guess he didn’t learn the first time.
No playing on the Netherlands WBC team either. Doh!
Ooof, man that’s horrible for the Braves. Sorry fans. Yikes, what a moron.
Wow – all benefits of the doubt seem to be out the window now. Bad choices and no excuses.
So
I have to think that either
1) lots of people are doing PED’s and passing but Profar’s “system”, or whatever, isn’t up to standard
2) he’s getting busted for something that isn’t actually a PED
If it actually wasn’t a PED, he would have fought it and so would the MLBPA. It had to be either a PED, or that he didn’t report a need ahead of time. Chances are he didn’t report it twice. That leads to #1 … he or his handler is bad at cheating.
UGA
“If it actually wasn’t a PED, he would have fought it and so would the MLBPA.”
“The Players Association plans to challenge Profar’s suspension, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.”
or
3) he made a stupid decision…again.
The first time he was busted for a woman’s fertility drug (same as Manny Ramirez). They take those in-between steroid cycles because their body has stopped producing natural testosterone (as it was overloaded by the steroids) and these drugs will trigger the body to begin making testosterone again.
#1 is likely the correct answer. Profar was clearly taking PEDs in 2024 with the Padres (set career exit velocity numbers by 3.6 mphat the age of 31 while maintaining all other numbers the same), which lead to a massive contract.
When Profar was caught his answer wasn’t to stop taking PEDs, because the penalty was so tiny and he hadn’t been caught previously. Only now should he start taking it seriously as he’s facing a lifetime ban and a loss of what may be the final 14mil of his career. Until MLB moves away from the ‘3 times and you’re out model’ players will continue to take banned PEDs.
1) Definitely true, almost assuredly. I’d imagine PED usage for injury recovery/rehab is common at MLB level depending on age/contract status.
2) Do you mean he’s getting touched up for something that’s not on the banned substance list at all? I’m hard pressed to give him the benefit of the doubt after one positive test. Although it does remind me of R. A. Dickey testing positive for opium after eating a bunch of lemon poppy chicken.
He will never play another game for the Braves because there will be a 3rd time he will get caught!
Seems like he would have learned his lesson but apparently he didn’t.
Now we wait to hear the denials or excuses.
Probably a cream or ointment!
It’s always a cream or ointment.
None of them will admit to a needle!
I was skeptical of the Mike Yastrzemski 2 year deal when first announced, but that deal is looking like a great move right now!
Guaranteed contract and throws it away for what, why would he do this again
This guy is basically the Robinson Cano of Austin Kearnses
Manny Ramirez raises his hand.
LOL, pure savagery.
Brutal
Dude, come on this is just being a moron. The first go around should have been lesson learned…
“Bro, he had his reasons.” – Emmanuel Clase
Oops, he did it again!
The Mike Yastrzemski deal is looking better and better!
Thats questionable. It’s difficult to believe he would risk 15M. I feel like Profar is somehow getting hosed on this one by the scrupulous Braves and a scrupulous test.
I hope their is some recourse for Profar. The B sample and some sort of independent testing in the case he has to file a civil suit against the Braves.
Holy tinfoil hat. Also, I don’t think scrupulous means what you think it means
Their their, lil’ ABS. This regression will not stand!
@dirtyjog — right, unscrupulous was the word what I was looking for, thanks for correcting my error.
42M in career earnings, I guess he can afford to risk it but why?
Did the Braves pay him off under the table to take a season off and orchestrate a second dirty test? Or is Profar getting screwed entirely?
His money wont count against their cap space now that he is suspended.
They are the only team in MLB who file an annual report and posting a loss is an eyesore.
Tin hat is right.
How dumb do you have to be…
Forget getting a DH off the heap .. go get Chippa! Even being out of baseball this long, I can guarantee you he is a better hitter than most of the available players at this point.
Or, just bring up Tromp and let Drake DH about 70% of the time. Save the wear and tear on his body while he continues to improve.
Braves should be fine when Kim and Murphy return in May…Yaz will play LF vs all righties…Dubon hits lefties well…one of the catchers can DH. Spend the $$$ saved on Littell or Giolito for Chrisakes.
Not sure how the Braves got duped into giving him that contract after his ‘career year at age 31’. Kinda obvious how that happened. Dude was a below average MLB hitter before 2024. AA flubbed this one …
What an idiot.
Perhaps as dumb as Profar.
Apparently numerous players and front office personnel read MLBTR. If one of you could pass this message on to Jurickson, that would be great: “You’re an idiot!”
I’m sure his teammates already delivered that message. 😁. They are probably more p***ed off than anyone.
Use it towards Littel or Giolito. There could also be some interesting guys cut in other camps you bring in to replace Profar.
They could likely add Giolito & a hitter and clubhouse guy like Andrew McCutchen
Cutch is washed. He’s not better than people already in camp.
Lol…the Braves are a dumpster fire.
You’d think he’d learn after the first one 🤦♂️
This is your brain….this is your brain on drugs.
WHAT AN IDIOT. Fifteen Million thrown away.
Oh, Pro…
We’ll always have that one game when Ruiz went at you.
Does he eventually get his money?
Not this year’s money, but he still gets paid in 2027 for the last year of his contract. Or whatever part of the 2027 season actually happens.
It’s crazy that this guy needs Cliff Notes for a few paragraphs….
But let’s say that 2027 there’s a lockout and only one-half of the season is played. He’s only paid one-half of 2027 and one-half of 2025 (that was not suspended). So, of a 3-year contract he’d only be paid for ~1 year of service (~1.5 years missed due to suspension, ~0.5 years missed due to possible lockout). Quite amazing.
Read the article….
no
wow dave wow
The money for this year is lost. If he passes the multitude of drug tests he’ll have to take going forward, he is still entitled to 2027’s guaranteed salary. Another positive test and he loses that as well.
If he’s smart he doesn’t take anything. Keeps his nose clean, collects next year’s money and hopes theres enough left of him playing clean next year that someone offers a minor league deal with a camp invite for 2028.
Realistically? Hes probably done.
Apparently some people never learn
What he learned was that MLB is tolerant of repeat PED offenders because it appeases the union.
He can come back in the final year of his contract and rake after two years of juicing to get his new contract
I believe that he will continue to be tested during the suspension. If he misses a test, that ‘should’ trigger an automatic 3rd suspension.
That said, MLB/MLBPA have played it a bit loose in the past on suspensions due to postponed tests.
One more suspension and he’s out of the league. Not sure how that appeases the union but he does get one more chance to end his career
How there been anything to age better than Will Smith calling Profar irrelevant three years ago?
The Braves should sign Max Kepler. He can come back mid season from his PED suspension!
He just keeps eating batteries.
This wraps up his braves career since there will be no season in 2027. Quite possibly the end of his career in MLB at this point.
Highly doubt the 2027 season is canceled.
I think they mean that ATL will most likely release him, just a matter of timing.
Why release him? If I’m Atlanta I see if I can go 3/3
Profar, he’s lost half of his contract with the Braves. His glory days seem Profar away that I’m a little surprised he didn’t sign with the Angels.
Absolutely no justification for MLB to remain associated in any way with Profar. He’s already been suspended – any excuses for a ‘second chance’ are spent.
Why does Profar keep getting PED suspensions? He needs to stop.
Pretty sure the Yankees would trade them Spencer jones for 2 low level lottery ticket minor league players, take a chance that he hits a few home runs between stroke outs
Baffling decision to throw 15mil away after you lost half of your salary last year.
It’s kind of amazing that he’s as dumb as he is obnoxious
Y’know, I understand the suspension when trying to land a contract or in the immediate aftermath.. the reward is simply too great. But twice? When you have the money banked? He was worth the money in limited action last year! Truly baffling.
Interesting to see MLBPA challenge. Gonna bite my tongue for now.
Stupid. Dummy. Idiot. Moron. Bozo. Nose picker.
LOL LOVE IT!!!
Tommy Pham has entered the chat, unfortunately.
Is he just dumb or stupid?
He is Dupid
Both.
Bruh.
So glad the Royals didn’t sign him
Profar from the Braves
Sign Giolito and Cutch with the $
A year ago I suggested that the Braves should cut their ties with him and move on. The overall reaction was he will be fine and he will help their team. Just cut him and move on. His career is over and he can blame himself.
They’ve barely paid him any of his contract. Half last year, none this year. Might as well hold onto him to see if he’s dumb enough to fail a third time and get out entirely.
Wow, this man has cost himself a lot of money!
I can do a lot with 15 million.
The Rays have plenty of (AAAA) outfielders!
$15 Million Welcome to Atlanta
Does this end his career?
Can I say R e t a r d here?
I tried and failed…
No. No, can’t.
Well, he is one.
Has any player ever been idiotic enough to do PEDs 2 years in a row? Usually years go by before they try again.
What a stupid mistake. It’s guaranteed money whether he performs or not. So even if he stayed clean and had a bad year, he still would’ve been paid.
How can he show his face in Atlanta again? I imagine AA will trade him for scraps.
Who’s more stupid: Emmanuel Clase sacrificing his potential HOF career and potential millions of dollars for like 700K and facing potential 65 years in prison or Jurickson Profar? Give me Clase.