The Braves opened camp in 2026 hoping for a full season from outfielder/designated hitter Jurickson Profar. He'd missed 80 games in 2025 following a PED suspension but was productive upon returning. With designated hitter Marcell Ozuna out the door, Profar and newly signed outfielder Mike Yastrzemski had plenty of runway to frequent playing time.
Of course, we now know that Profar isn't likely to play a single game in 2026. He's staring down yet another PED-related suspension, and the punishment for second-time offenders jumps from 80 games to 162 games. Profar and the MLBPA appear intent on appealing the ban, but there's no precedent for a suspension being completely overturned.
At best, Profar can probably hope for a slight reduction, and even instances like that are rare. Right-hander Michael Pineda saw a 2019 suspension reduced from 80 to 60 games, but only after providing sufficient evidence that the banned diuretic he took was not used as a masking agent for PEDs. Profar didn't test positive for a masking agent but rather exogenous testosterone.
Assuming Profar's season-long ban is upheld, Atlanta will have some decisions to make. The Braves are already down their shortstop and two rotation arms this spring. Ha-Seong Kim required surgery to repair a tendon in his hand after slipping on some ice in the offseason. Righties Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep both underwent elbow surgery to remove loose bodies and/or bone spurs.
The Braves are now also without Profar, who'd been in line for regular at-bats and was hoping to build off the sound .248/.358/.446 batting line (126 wRC+) he logged in 355 plate appearances upon returning from last year's suspension. The veteran switch-hitter walked at a huge 13.2% clip and only struck out in 15.8% of his plate appearances. He connected on 14 home runs, 16 doubles and a triple while contributing nine steals (in 11 tries) on the bases.
Losing Schwellenbach, Profar, Kim and Waldrep before the halfway point in spring training is a rough way to begin the season for an Atlanta club hoping for better health than in an injury-decimated 2025 campaign. If there's a silver lining for Braves fans, however, it's that Profar's suspension sends him to the restricted list and mandates that he will not be paid his $15MM salary. The Braves are not only off the hook for that $15MM -- they're also spared $3MM of associated luxury taxes they'd have paid to the league.
There's obviously no guarantee that Atlanta reinvests the full freight of the money they're now spared. The Braves could opt to lean on in-house solutions to plug their newfound roster gaps, then readdress when the trade deadline rolls around. That's a defensible strategy, though the counterpoint would be that spending some of those funds on immediate additions would bolster the team's chances of making it to late July as a contender.
Much of free agency and the trade market has been picked over, but there are some options for president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos to explore with his unexpected $15MM of payroll flexibility late in the winter. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes more briefly touched on this topic in yesterday's mailbag, but let's take a look at some more possibilities.
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Seems like it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to just call Boston about Yoshida… Contract value is close as is offensive production when healthy. They could probably get the Sox to eat about half if not more of the money anyway. Open up some budget for the trade deadline, as needed.
Seems like a win-win and I doubt Boston would ask for much / anything in return as long as they shed some of the money.
I think the Braves would probably be looking for a RH bat to platoon with Yaz, or a much better defender to put in the OF o give Acuna days at DH.
Now if Duran was available then Atlanta would not worry about the platoon situation. Duran would be in the outfield and Yaz would be the guy that plays the outfield to give Acuna days at DH
Duran at this point is likely off limits unless we get a power hitter in return. The biggest issue with the Sox right now is the lack of power and Duran at this point is one of our power hitters (relatively speaking, not classically speaking).
I agree that Duran is likely off limits…
I’m not convinced the Braves make any moves really. one or both of Kim and Murphy could be back early May. That gives them more options at that point.
I think Dubon and Eli White are both going to get the chance to play almost every day. Yaz may even get a chance to hit lefties.
The Braves also seem to like their internal pitching options. I like the possibility of Ritchie being the 5th starter if he can prove throughout spring that he is ready.
Plus, they could have all 3 of Schwellenbach, Waldrep, and Smith-Shaver back by mid-June to July.
Does Atlanta have any spare LH relievers? Yoshida + $$ for left handed bullpen help.
Aaron Bummer…deal
Both Yoshida and Profar are under contract for next season and the Braves may not be looking to add payroll for next year.
Tommy Pham is still available, as is Rowdy Tellez, Justin Turner, Hunter Renfroe, and a host of players on minor league contracts that will be available after they don’t make their respective team’s rosters
Regarding Eric Lauer being a trade candidate for the Braves, I wonder if that’s why the team pulled Cease from the start vs Atlanta today in favour of Lauer.
The Jays are visiting. They only have 4 regulars (if Straw, Heineman and Schneider are considered regulars) in the lineup. Cease is pitching a sim game at the Jays complex.
$210M players dont ride buses!
I really would hate to see Lauer traded. Gausman and Berrios are reasonably sure things but Ponce, Yesavage, and Scherzer are not.
Jays have a lot of starting pitchers but hardly a locked down rotation especially early.
I’m guessing the Braves will keep options available by standing pat and waiting to see if they can stay within striking distance until the deadline with what they have. If they come out of the gate 26-42 or something they’re close enough to be able to dip under the luxury tax. Currently $246mm…only $2mm over the first threshold.
FYI J.R. Richie was demoted amd will likely not be the no 5 starter
When did Ritchie get demoted? Owen Murphy and Garrett Baumann both got demote Wednesday.
Don’t want to start his service time clock. They have already been bad with that in recent years. Look for Elder and Wentz to make the team.
The Braves should start a rebuild and tear it all down. Riley…gone, Olson… gone. Acuna…gone, Albies…gone, Iglesias…gone, Sale…gone. Let’s get ready for the 2028 season! And punt on ‘26 & a strike shortened ‘27!
That would bring in some serious prospect capital for sure.
Give it a week, Michael Conforto will be getting cut by the Cubs
We can trade you Lee and Sosa for pitching prospect
Yoshida +$$ for a lefty reliever
Yoshida + Pitching for Lefty reliever + prospects
And to think, Nick Castellanos was sitting there for the entire off-season for the low, low price of $20M!
Ummm…no he wasn’t. He was a Phillie, and they ate his contract upon his release. He signed with the Padres for league minimum.
They will used it at the trade deadline. The Profar gift wrap money.